VES1CARIA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



VIBURNUM. 



915 



V. spuria is 12 to 18 in. high, but rather 

 too diffuse and should be cut down in autumn, 

 as otherwise it trails untidily. In June it 

 produces many terminal racemes of bluish- 

 purple blossoms. Syn. V. ajnethystina. 



V. subsessilis is botanically considered a 

 variety of V. longifolia, but for garden purposes 

 is very distinct. It is the handsomest of the 

 hardy Veronicas, and flourishes in spite of 

 spring frosts and cold summers. Its large 

 dense spikes of deep purple-blue flowers are 

 effective, and it should always have a position 

 among the choicest hardy flowers in a good 

 deep loamy soil and open situation. Japan. 

 Division or seed. 



V. taurica. A dwarf, wiry, and almost 

 woody species from Tauria, forming neat dark 

 green tufts, under 3 in. high ; its fine Gentian- 

 blue flowers borne abundantly. It is, perhaps, 

 the neatest kind for forming spreading tufts, in 

 level spots of the rock-garden, or drooping from 

 chinks, and for association with the dwarfest 

 alpine plants. Division or cuttings. Syn. 

 V. orientalis var. lenuifolia, 



V. Teucrium. A Continental plant, which 

 forms spreading masses from 8 to 12 in. high, 

 covered in early summer with flowers of an 

 intense blue, at first in dense racemes which 

 lengthen progressively. It is excellent for the 

 rock-garden or borders, and grows freely in 

 any soil. Seeds or division. 



V. virginica and other tall species are 3 to 

 4 ft. high, and flower in July, but are deficient 

 in colour. 



VESICARIA (Bladder Pea}. Hardy 

 evergreen perennials, of which V. grceca 

 is the handsomest, and bears a strong- 

 resemblance to the better-known V. utri- 

 culata, long cultivated in gardens. The 

 bright yellow flowers open in succession 

 for a length of several inches on each 

 stem. Rocky places in South Europe. 

 Cuttings or seed. Both kinds flourish 

 in dryish soil, on dry sunny parts of the 

 rock-garden. 



VIBURNUM (Guelder Rose). Hand- 

 some and vigorous shrubs of northern 

 regions, beautiful in berry as well as 

 flower, and with few exceptions of the 

 easiest cultivation. They simply need a 

 fair soil and plenty of moisture. Increase 

 by cuttings and layers or seed the best 

 way. Some kinds are not worth grow- 

 ing, being either too much like others or 

 tender and delicate with us ; those ad- 

 mitted here are distinct and of value and 

 it is best to limit ourselves to these. 



V. ACERIFOLIUM. A shrub of 4 to 6 ft. , from 

 the mountains of New England, and distinct 

 in its broad and glossy three-lobed leaves. 

 The flowers are not showy, but give place to 

 oval red berries, blackish-purple when ripe. 

 The leaves turn a fine crimson-purple in 

 autumn, and the plant will grow in dry rocky 

 soils. 



V. CARLESII. A charming Japanese shrub 



of rather loose habit, with roundish leaves, 

 silvery on the under-side and greyish-green 

 above from their coating of fine hairs. The 

 flowers expand as rounded clusters of good 

 size in the latter part of April, though the buds 

 are formed early the previous autumn. The 

 flowers are pink in bud, opening white and 

 retaining a flush on the outside ; they are 

 finely fragrant and of so thick a texture as to 

 last a long time. Though uninjured at Kew 

 during recent winters, the plant is still on trial 

 as to hardiness in this country, and might 

 possibly lose its buds in a severe winter. 

 Cuttings. 



V. CASSINOIDES. Of the American Vibur- 

 nums, this is one of the best, growing some 6 

 ft. high, with thick leathery leaves, 3 in. to 

 4 in. long, and yellowish white flowers, 

 during the early part of June, in flat cymes 4 

 in. to 5 m - across, and handsome fruit, the 

 berries changing first to rose colour and finally 

 to bluish black. As they do not ripen simul- 

 taneously, fruits of both these colours, as well 

 as green ones, occur on a cluster at the same 

 time. Northern and Arctic America. 



C. COTINIFOLIUM is a spreading shrub or 

 low tree of 20 ft. , found high on the Hima- 

 layas, yet so tender as to need shelter or a place 

 on a warm wall during our winters. Its young 

 leaves are downy but wear smooth, remaining 

 grey and woolly beneath, ovate in shape, and 

 4^ ins. long by 2\ wide. The flower-clusters 

 appear in May and June upon short woolly 

 stalks, the small white flowers flushed with 

 pink, and succeeded by bright scarlet berries. 

 A beautiful shrub for warm districts. 



V. DAHURICUM. A spreading shrub of 6 

 to 8 ft., with grey stems and small woolly 

 leaves. It is spread from Dahuria to Western 

 China, and is hardy, thriving in light moist 

 humus, and covered during early summer with 

 white funnel-shaped flowers in small clusters, 

 followed by fragrant oval berries, at first red, 

 but black and sweet when ripe. 



V. DILATATUM. A shapely shrub of erect 

 growth, brought long ago from the East and 

 fully hardy, yet almost unknown in our gar- 

 dens. Its bright green leaves resemble those 

 of the common Hazel, and its showy heads of 

 pure white flowers, appearing in May and 

 June, sometimes measure 6 ins. across. These 

 give place to scarlet berries, hanging for many 

 weeks, and making this one of the most hand- 

 some of hardy shrubs. 



V. DENTATUM. A bushy shrub of 15 ft., 

 with ovate leaves on slender stems and abun- 

 dant white flowers in June and July, when the 

 shrub is at its best. These give place to small 

 rounded berries of a bright dark blue, covered 

 with a fine bloom. There are two varieties, 

 one with finely variegated leaves, and Itzvtga- 

 tuin, which flowers later and is larger in leaf. 

 These are handsome shrubs for damp ground. 

 N. America. 



V. FURCATUM. A handsome species, a 



native of North Japan at low levels, and of the 



mountains of the more southern portions, and 



one of the finest of shrubs for autumn colour. 



3 N 2 



