List of Ornamental Trees & Shrubs rv'ith Descriptions 67 



*Amygdalu* persica (Peach) The double-flowering Peaches are ". 

 amongst the finest of our shrubs for early Spring flowers. : 

 While the trees are still almost leafless, the branches break 

 out with abundance of rose, white, or red rosettes; a perfect ' 

 blaze of delicate colour. 10 to 20 feet. We might note here . 

 that all the shrubs bearing flowers in very early Spring will 

 do much better if irrigated in July. 



*Apple, Flowering See Malus. 



*Aralia (Fatsiu) papi/rifera A weed in one sense, for once 

 planted it is difficult to keep within bounds. The young 

 suckers come up at long distances from the parent. Yet it 

 is a very handsome foliage plant, with enormous, palmate, 

 dull green leaves, sometimes 2 feet across ; and the masses 

 of inflorescence, a creamy yellow cloud, are also handsome. 

 To be planted where room is plentiful, and where it cannot 

 interfere with other plants. 8 feet. 



Araucariaft Most of these yield a very excellent timber, but have 

 not been mentioned in that connection because they are of 

 very slow growth for that purpose. But as ornamental trees 

 the four or five species we know in South Africa are magni- 

 ficent. For the Coast belt and warm Midlands, A. excelsa ' 

 (Norfolk Island Pine) and A. cookii (Capt. Cook's Pine) are 

 unequalled by any tree for symmetry and stateliness, but 

 t'.iey are not suitable for cold districts, their cold limit being 

 about of frost. A. cunninghamii is also subject to harm 

 from frost., A. imbricata* (Monkey Puzzle) and A. brazil- 

 iensis*. both highly ornamental, are more hardy, and both . 

 are living and thriving at Harrismith. For ornament Arau- 

 carias are best planted as single specimens, allowing plenty 

 of room for full development, Height, GO to 120 feet. 



Asimina trilolm A small tree, 20 feet. The large pulpy fruit is 

 edible and of pleasant taste when fully ripe. 



*Aucuba japonica Purely a foliage plant, and most popular in 

 Europe. The large leaves are mottled and splashed yellow, 

 and are thick, leathery and shining. In districts of good 

 rainfall, and with partial shade, this handsome shrub will 

 do well, and is quite hardy; but exposure to full sunlight, 

 or hot winds, scorch and spoil the leaves and stop growth. 

 6 to 10 feet. 



Azalea indica (Evergreen Azaleas) So well-known that any de- 

 scription is unnecessary. The most beautiful and effective 

 of all flowering shrubs for South Africa, and hardy to 15 

 of frost. Flowers are many colours, and these appear from 

 the end of June (in the warm districts) to the end of Octo- 

 ber. Colours from white through all shades of red, almost 

 to purple. 



The double-flowering type is of much slower and dwarfer 

 growth than the single-flowering type, the plants rarely ex- 

 ceeding 6 feet in height. If Azaleas, therefore, are required : 

 for a large shrubbery or long carriage drive, it is best to 



