114 MY SHRUBS 



peat should satisfy the plant with us, though elsewhere a cold house 

 might serve it better. 



Styrax is a handsome and fairly hardy deciduous shrub of 

 many species. I have but two, both of flowering size. S. Ohassia 

 is a Japanese treasure, and grows to a small tree in Cornwall. Its 

 fragrant flowers are like snowdrops, and hang with grace among 

 the large leaves. S.japonicum has made a little bush on my sunny 

 rockery. The blossoms are like those of the larger plant in form, 

 but of smaller size. This prospers well enough and flowers freely. 

 S. Benzoin, from Sumatra, yields the gum resin of that name. 



Sutherlandia frutescens, the Cape Bladder Senna, is a splendid 

 wall plant among us, but still rare in my experience. I only 

 possess strong and promising seedlings from a friend. They have 

 already flowered and fruited in their youthful state — ^my picture 

 represents one not three years old — but an established plant 

 familiar to me covers a wall with the fine grey-green foliage and 

 splendid scarlet racemes of pea-shaped flowers. The inflated pods 

 are like Httle Rugby footballs. Under the name of Colutea f rules- 

 cenSy this Bladder Senna is well figured in the " Botanical Magazine " 

 (No. i8i), where I find the shrub first came to England in 1683. 

 Worth is indeed but tardily recognised. 



Sycopsis sinensis is a very graceful dark evergreen with delightful 

 habit — a most pleasing novelty. The rosy gold inflorescence adorns 

 the shrub in April. Half shade would seem desirable, for I had 

 a good specimen that perished in full sun. It may be a lime-hater, 

 but I do not know as to that. 



Symplocos cratagoides, from Japan, is a deciduous climber for 

 a south wall. The neat foliage and very beautiful white flower 

 trusses — feathery and light as swansdown — make this a welcome 



