226 CALIFORNIA GARDEN FLOWERS 



in colors from pure white, pale blue to bright and dark blue shades. 

 They are propagated from seed, are of easy culture, rapid growth and 

 particularly valuable for dry places. Ceanothus thyrsiflorus is one of 

 the best known. It forms a handsome shrub with dark green shiny 

 foliage and large panicles of deep blue flowers. C. crassifolius is a 

 white flowered species, with rather rigid stems and opposite dentate 

 leathery leaves. C. integerrimus is from a higher altitude, being found 

 in the upper chapparral and pine belts. It often covers whole moun- 

 tain slopes with its white blossoms, reminding one of drifted snow. 

 It is a tall, loosely branching shrub with green or somewhat brownish 

 stems and light green, slightly hairy foliage. 



Southern California Sumacs. Three evergreen shrubs especially 

 desirable for their handsome foliage are Rhus laurina (Sumach), which 

 grows in compact form, has reddish stems, smooth green foliage and 

 clusters of small white flowers; Rhus integrifolia is especially common 

 near the sea coast and has thick, leathery rich green foliage. R. ovata 

 forms a magnificent shrub with extremely handsome thick, glossy 

 green leaves. 



California Buckthorns. The Wild Coffee (Rhamnus calif ornica) is 

 well known and is a shrub which is in great demand. Rhamnus crocea 

 is a low, thick, very densely branched shrub with small green leaves 

 and insignificant flowers but producing, later in the season, quantities 

 of rich scarlet berries. Rhamnus crocea var. ilicifolia is a form of the 

 preceding but differs considerably in growth, forming a large, branch- 

 ing shrub of rapid growth with holly-like foliage and scarlet berries. 



Evergreen Cherry. A splendid shrub either for single specimens 

 or for hedges is the Wild Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia). It has pretty, 

 glossy green, holly-like foliage and small white flowers. Many speci- 

 mens are to be found in some of the large gardens around Los Angeles 

 and Pasadena and it is one of the most beautiful shrubs grown. 



California Juniper. There are many native conifers of value for 

 dry-land gardening. There is one, however, which is particularly 

 useful. This is Juniperus californica. It is found in some of our dry, 

 sandy washes and is generally a dwarf spreading bush, 'but occasionally 

 attains the size of a small tree. It has long been cultivated in Europe, 

 and we could use it to great advantage in our gardens. 



California Holly. The Christmas Berry or California Holly (He- 

 teromeles arbutifolia) is, of course, well known and greatly admired 

 by everyone. It dees exceedingly well under cultivation. Everyone 

 knows its pretty foliage and attractive berries used so plentifully for 

 decorating at Christmas time, but few realize its other attractions. An 

 exceedingly fine specimen is on the grounds of ex-Senator Bard at 

 Hueneme. It is truly a magnificent sight with its large trusses of 

 white blossoms. 



