List of Ornamental Trees & Shrubs with Descriptions 65 



Acalypha The various species are almost confined to warm Mid- 

 lands and Coast culture as they will not bear the least cold 

 or frost. The varieties are numerous, leaves variegated with 

 brown, yellow, and green and very handsome. A. sanderiana 

 has long pendulous racemes of scarlet flowers. Height from 

 4 to 6 feet. 



*Acers (Maples) Of the various species of Maples, perhaps only 

 the Box Elder (A. negundo) can be said to be successful 

 anywhere in South Africa, and even this seldom seems happy 

 away from water, or at least a district of heavy rainfall 

 The Sycamore (A. pseudo-platanus) is of slow growth. This, 

 and the Plane, may be of use, however, as specimen deciduous 

 trees where there is deep soil. For avenues the branch 

 spread is large and heavy, while there is the particularly 

 beautiful effect of the bright green new foliage each Spring. 

 Other varieties which might do in selected spots are the 

 Norway Maple (A. platanoides), the Sugar Maple (A. saccha- 

 rinum), and the Red-leaved Maple (A. rubrum), the leaves 

 of which turn a brilliant red in Autumn. Height from 40 to 

 60 feet. 



Ailanthus glandulosa Highly ornamental foliage whilst the tree 

 is young, with broad pinnate leaves. But we cannot recom- 

 mend it for general planting in South Africa, because of its 

 habit of suckering. As it gets older its beauty fades. 20 

 feet. 



AUamandas All are vigorous, quick growing shrubs, from 8 to 

 16 feet in height, and Very bushy. A. neriifolia is always in 

 flower, the flowers being yellow bells about 2 inches long. 

 A. schottii (A. magnifica) bears a much larger yellow flower 

 of the same shape, slightly darker yellow, but is not such a 

 continuous bloomer. It is a drooping plant. A. violacea has 

 numerous and large violet flowers, bell-shaped and pendu- 

 lous, while the habit of the plant is more of a trailer than 

 a stiff shrub. All fairly hardy and well worth growing. 



*Alnus Both A. alba and A. glutiriosa are large trees, at h^me 

 on the banks of a stream. Deciduous. 50 feet. 



*Aloysia citriodora The "Lemon-scented Verbena." Vigorous, 

 quick growing and hardy. The flowers are quite insignifi- 

 cant, but the plentiful foliage is strongly scented with lemon 

 6 feet. 



Alstonm schol-aria 5 feet. A fine evergreen shrub, with very 

 numerous white star-shaped flowers, quite useful for cutting. 

 Hardy up to 3,000 feet. 



* Althaea frutex (Syrian Hibiscus) The Althaeas are highly 

 desirable for planting in cold districts, although they also do 

 quite well in warmer places. They are very hardy, deciduous, 

 and in October and November are covered with single and 

 double flowers, rose purple and white, the individual flowers 

 being 2 to 3 inches across. to 10 feet. 



