EUONYMUS. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



EUPHORBIA. 



573 



autumn, reveal the orange-coloured sac 

 which envelops the seeds, producing a 

 beautiful effect. Of several varieties, the 

 most interesting are the white fruited 

 kind, which differs from the species in 

 producing white instead of pink cap- 

 sules ; the variety with scarlet leaves ; 

 and nanus or pumilus, a neat little plant, 

 very bushy, and one which never grows 

 higher than about 2 ft. and is admir- 

 ably suited for the rock-garden, or 

 any situation where a dwarf plant is 

 desirable. 



E. latifolius (Broad-leaved Spindle 

 Tree*}. Wild in the south of France 

 and in some parts of Germany, and a 

 tree of from 10 to 20 ft. high, the leaves 

 shining green, larger than those of the 

 common Euonymus ; the flowers, which 

 expand in June, are of a purplish-white ; 

 the capsules large, and deep red, contrast- 

 ing, as they open, most effectively with 

 the bright orange sacs with which the 

 seed is enveloped. It is quite hardy, and 

 forms an ornamental tree, well fitted for a 

 lawn. 



E. americanus (American Spindle 

 Tree}. This is a small deciduous, or, in 

 mild winters and sheltered situations, sub- 

 evergreen shrub, of about 6 ft. in height, 

 found wild over a wide area in Canada 

 and the United States. It has an erect 

 habit of growth, with numerous long 

 slender branches covered with a smooth 

 light green bark ; the flowers open in June, 

 succeeded by rough warted brilliant crim- 

 son capsules, which in its native habitats 

 are so showy and abundant that it is 

 named the Burning Bush. In this country 

 it is generally cultivated as a wall plant, 

 and as such it is ornamental. It succeeds 

 best on the shady side, and prefers a moist 

 rather than a dry porous soil. 



E. angustifolius (Narrow-leaved 

 Spindle Tree}. A twiggy or sub-ever- 

 green shrub about 4 ft. in height, with 

 long wiry branches, abundantly clothed 

 with remarkably narrow oblong leaves, of 

 a deep green colour in summer, changing 

 in autumn to a dull red tint. The flowers 

 are very small, of a greenish-white colour, 

 followed by red fruit capsules. It is a 

 very distinct and interesting shrub for 

 a low wall, and has a pretty effect on 

 raised banks, growing freely in shady 

 sheltered aspects, and in damp heavy soils. 

 E. japonicus (Japan Spindle Tree}. 

 An evergreen species 4 to 6 ft. in height, 

 of bushy habit, the branches clothed with 

 numerous leaves of a dark glossy green 

 colour. Though hardy in sheltered dis- 

 tricts, it seldom flowers in this country. 

 Few evergreens thrive better near the sea ; 



and either it or some of its varieties are 

 frequently met with on the west and south 

 coasts of England, and west coast of 

 Scotland, forming handsome specimen 

 shrubs on lawns and shrubberies. In 

 the inland districts it suffers from frosts, 

 and can only be depended upon on walls 

 or in favoured situations. During recent 

 years a number of varieties have been 

 sent home from Japan ; several of these, 

 and particularly the variegated forms, are 

 favourites. 



All the varieties thrive best in warm 

 sunny exposure, and in well-drained soils. 

 The kind called argenteus variegatus has 

 leaves clothed with silver ; aureus varie- 

 gatus, leaves margined with deep yellow ; 

 latifolius argenteus and latifolius aureus, 

 leaves with white and yellow variegations 

 respectively. 



E. radicans variegatus is a dwarf 

 creeping variety, its leaves are varie- 

 gated with white ; it is hardy, and 

 useful for planting as an edging. On 

 rockeries or low walls it has a pretty 

 effect ; and as it forms roots similar to 

 those of the Ivy, it requires little care to 

 keep it to the wall or other support. 



EUPATORIUM (Thorough-wort}. - 

 Coarse Composite perennials, most of 

 which are better suited for the wild gar- 

 den than for borders, though two or three 

 kinds are worth a place for supplying 

 cut flowers in autumn. The most suitable 

 are E. ageratoides, altissimum, and arom- 

 aticum, which are 3 to 5 ft. high, and 

 bear a profusion of white blossoms in 

 dense flat heads, E. cannabinum (Hemp 

 Agrimony), E. perfoliatum, and E. pur- 

 pureum (Trumpet-weed), which is a fine 

 object in the rougher parts of a garden, 

 being 12 ft. high, with stems terminated 

 by huge clusters of purple flowers. All 

 grow in any kind of soil. 



EUPHORBIA (Spurge}. Perennials 

 anddwarf bushy plants,including few hardy 

 species of value for the flower garden. The 

 foliage of some, such as E. cyparissus 

 (Cypress Spurge), is elegant. In spring 

 E. pilosa and amygdaloides are attractive 

 by their yellow flowers when little else is 

 in bloom, but they are scarcely worth 

 growing in a general way. Some of the 

 dwarf kinds, such as E. Myrsinites, 

 portlandica, capitata, and triflora, are 

 neat and distinct in habit and grow in 

 any soil. There are a few variegated 

 forms. The well-known Caper Spurge 

 (E. Lathyris} is often seen in cottage 

 gardens, and in habit is a distinct plant, 

 with a certain beauty of foliage and habit. 

 A few plants of it on a bank or rough 

 place are not amiss. They are all horribly 



