CHAPTER XXII. 

 SHRUBS APPROVED FOR CALIFORNIA GARDENS. 



Without undertaking to learn what the systematists have decreed, 

 for such rough classification as this work requires, the term "plant" 

 will cover everything from a violet to a sequoia gigantea. When occa- 

 sion arises for differentiation between the terms "shrub" and "plant," 

 the term "shrub" will be applied to rather small growths of a woody 

 character which in their natural development do not reach sufficient 

 height to be called "trees." The height properly belonging to a shrub 

 would normally be less than ten or twelve feet. Contrasting with 

 this, a "plant" would be a vegetable affair which makes only soft or 

 herbaceous growth, reproducing such shoots from the root crown or 

 lateral roots, and never attaining a woody texture in these shoots. 

 Height cannot be prescribed for "plants" because some soft herbaceous 

 stems rise higher than some woody stems. The only reason for pre- 

 scribing height for a shrub is to conveniently distinguish shrubs from 

 trees, both of which, of course make practically the same character of 

 woody growth, but "trees" project this growth more than ten or twelve 

 feet from the ground and sustain it there without support. Whenever 

 a herbaceous or woody stem reaches considerable extension, but can- 

 not gain much elevation without support, it is a "vine." 



California's Wealth of Shrubs. A comprehensive discussion of the 

 shrubs available for California gardens is beyond the writer's space 

 and knowledge. It would be a charming subject to grow wise about 

 and no doubt ere long some one, with proper botanical and cultural 

 equipment, will undertake it. How broad is our natural suitability for 

 shrubs of all climates may be inferred from the statements made on 

 pages 8 and 9. It is a fact that a visitor from any part of the earth, 

 except perhaps from tropical jungles, is likely to see in some California 

 park or garden some flower, shrub, tree or vine which he has been 

 wont to see at home and he may see it here better cared for and 

 honored than at home, for both plants and prophets may have more 

 honor abroad than in their own country. And that suggests a brief 

 reference to the claim that California planters would show more 

 patriotism and better taste if they should make gardens of plants 

 native to the state and not draw so heavily on the world's flora. One 

 statement of that claim is made by Mr. Wilhelm Miller, a distinguished 

 esthetico-horticulturist of New York City, in these words: 



"What gorgeous opportunity California has to work out a unique 

 style of landscape gardening based upon her native trees, shrubs, vines, 

 and flowers. It is one of the richest spots on the earth's surface in 



