List of Ornamental Trees & Shrubs leiih Descriptions 93 



*Prunus pissardii (Purple-leaved Plum) For foliage effect in a 

 mixed shrubbery this is most useful and is very hardy in all 

 districts. 15 to 20 feet. 



P. " Vesuvius " has a still deeper and more metallic colour. 

 Of the flowering plums " moseri " flore pleno has bronze 

 foliage and beautiful double pink flowers ; " blircana fl. pi." 

 has green foliage and very large double pink flowers; 

 " triloba," semi-double pink flowers ; and " sinensis fl. pi." a 

 rich display of pure white flowers. 



*Quercufi (Oaks) Just in a few well-favoured spots, with good 

 rainfall and depth of soil, one sees occasionally fair speci- 

 mens of the Oak. But they are really not at home in South 

 Africa, and are perhaps grown more for sentimental reasons 

 than for utility or beauty. Where the conditions are favour- 

 able some types may make fair and handsome specimens, 

 however. Q. suber, the Cork Oak, has grown to a fine speci- 

 men near Maritzburg. The common Oak has grown into good 

 avenues in a few well-favoured places. As an ornamental 

 tree it is almost a failure as a shade tree only a partial 

 success. The same remarks apply to the ornamental scarlet 

 and red-leaved types, Q. coccinia and Q. rubra. 



*Raphiolepis ovatus (Indian Hawthorn) A nice compact bush, 

 with firm, almost round leaves and very numerous white 

 flowers. 6 feet. R. indica has lanceolate leaves and more 

 erect growth. 



Rhododendrons These are only successful, unfortunately, in a 

 very few situations. One might say that success is only 

 possible within the mist belt of the Eastern Coast, and even, 

 there only where a Southern aspect, good shelter, and plenty 

 of moisture are available. Given these conditions they bloom 

 profusely. Outside these conditions they fail utterly; and it 

 is best to fall back on the next best thing, the allied Azaleas. 

 10 feet. 



*Rhus glabra A very handsome foliage tree throughout the Sum- 

 mer, and magnificent in rich brown and red effects when the 

 Autumn comes. Rhus vernicifera is just as good in all ways. 

 Both are good-sized trees, reaching 20 to 25 feet. Rhus 

 lanceolata has very handsome, divided leaves, is of more suc- 

 culent growth and apt to be killed down by frost in cold 

 districts. However, it suckers well from the rootstock, and: 

 is of such quick growth that it is well worth growing even 

 where it is cut in Winter. 10 feet. 



Russclia juncea, and R. floribunda ( rotundif olia ) belong to the 

 front line of the shrubbery. Both are only half hardy, but 

 even in the colder districts they will spring up from the root 

 each season and bloom well. They should, however, have a 

 covering of rough litter to protect the rootstock from the 

 frost. The flowers are tubular, deep scarlet, and very 

 numerous. 3 feet. 



