490 DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. 



flowers, which are white, and about one and a half inches in diame- 

 ter, are borne in clusters from four to six inches long, from June to 

 September. It requires a sheltered situation, and a moist soil. In 

 autumn the leaves turn to a fine deep-red color. 



The Heart-leaved Hydrangea, H. cordata, has large foliage 

 and small flowers : the tree-like, H. arborescens, is a native of Penn- 

 sylvania and Virginia ; the bush, leaf, and flower being smaller 

 than the preceding : the snowy-leaved, or hoary-leaved, H. canescens, 

 is a low shrub of the southern States, with flowers larger than the 

 preceding, and leaves white and velvety beneath. The involucrata 

 is said to be a hardy and unusually erect variety. 



The Japan Hydrangea. H. dcutziafoHa {II. piviiculata gran- 

 diflora). — This variety, but recently introduced into this country, 

 bids foir to be quite the most valuable of the hydrangeas. It seems 

 to be hardy in the Central Park, with straw protection in winter, and 

 there forms magnificent masses of fine leaves and flowers, bloom- 

 ing profusely from the first of August until frosts. The leaves are 

 large, abundant, and of a dark bright glossy green color. The 

 flowers are larger than those of the old box-hydrangea, of a creamy- 

 white color, and waxy texture. They grow in immense spikes six 

 inches or more long, and of equal breadth, and turn to a purplish- 

 pink color as the season advances. Height and breadth of bush 

 from three to five feet. 



THE HYPERICUM, OR ST. JOHNSWORT. Hypericum. 



Low sub-evergreen shrubs suitable for shady places. The va- 

 rieties H. prolificu7}i and H. kalmianum are broad, compact, low 

 shrubs, two to three feet high, with small elliptical leaves, and 

 corymbs of small yellow flow^ers in July and August, and are highly 

 valued (especially the latter) for their neat compact growth and the 

 warm tone of the foliage. The H. calycinmn is an evergreen trail- 

 ing species with much larger leaves and flowers, the latter of a 

 bright-golden color, which is greatly esteemed for planting among 

 rocks and trees in very shady places. The root creeps and stoles 

 so that the plant extends itself rapidly over the surface. 



