VIBURNUM. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



VIBURNUM. 



857 



somest, and bears a strong resemblance 

 to the better-known V. utriculata, long 

 cultivated in gardens. The flowers open 

 in succession for several inches on each 

 stem. Rocky districts in Dalmatia and 

 other places in South Europe. Cuttings 

 or seed. Both V. grseca and V. utricu- 

 lata flourish in dryish soil, on dry sunny 

 parts of the rock-garden. 



VIBURNUM (Guelder Rose]. Hand- 

 some and vigorous shrubs of northern 

 regions : of much beauty, of berry as well 

 as flower : and with few exceptions of the 

 easiest cultivation. They simply need a 

 soil of fair quality and plenty of moisture. 

 They can be easily propagated by cut- 

 tings and layers or seed the best way. 



Viburnum plicatum. 



Some of the kinds are not worthy of a 

 place in gardens, either from not being 

 distinct from others, or from not showing 

 their best characters in our country, and 

 those admitted here are distinct and 

 of value in our country. As N. Asia is 

 very rich in these plants we may look for 

 some good kinds from it, but it is best at 

 first to limit the kinds to those giving 

 really good effects. 



V. CASSINOIDES. Of the American Vibur- 

 num, 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 in. 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. 



V. FURCATUM. Is a rare and handsome 

 species, a native of North Japan at low levels, 

 and of the mountains of the more southern 

 portions, and is one of the finest shrubs for 

 autumn colour. The leaves, which are large 

 and broad, turn brilliant scarlet and reddish 

 purple before they fall, and it grows 12 ft. to 

 15 ft. in height. Japan. 



V. LANTANA (Wayfaring Tree). One of 

 the two kinds native of Britain, and frequent 

 in hedgerows and copses, especially in chalk 

 or limestone soils. At its best it is almost a 

 small tree, 12 ft. to 15 ft. high. The flowers 

 are white during May and June on flat clusters 

 at the ends of the branches. The fruit is red 

 at first, ultimately black, and the leaves often 

 die off a rich red. There is a variegated form 

 of no particular value. 



V. LANTANOIDES (Hobble Bush or Moose- 

 wood}. A North American kind, a large 

 shrub, the leaves are almost round, and whilst 

 averaging 3 in. to 4 in. across, are some- 

 times over 6 in. The truss has its outer 

 flowers sterile, and they are I in. or more in 

 diameter ; both they and the smaller ones 

 that fill the centre are white. The fruit is 

 at first coral-red, afterwards dark purple or 

 almost black, and the foliage dies off a rich 

 claret. 



V. MACROCEPHALUM (Great Snowball 

 Bush}. A Chinese species, not very hardy, 

 but its flower-clusters are enormous. In some 

 places it thrives against a wall, but is rarely 

 seen in good health. Fortune mentions 

 having seen it 20 ft. high in Chusan. The 

 wild plant from which it has been derived is 

 in cultivation, and is known as V. KETELEERF. 

 This has the centre of the truss (which is much 

 flatter than in V. macrocephalum} filled with 

 fertile flowers, the outer ones only being 

 sterile. 



V. ODORATISSIMUM. As a rule, when 

 grown out of doors this is given a place on a 

 wall, as it is not hardy in all winters. It is 

 evergreen, its foliage being handsome. Each 

 leaf 3 to 6 in. long, leathery, and of a lus- 

 trous dark green. The flowers are in corymbs r 

 and although small and dull white, are charm - 

 j ing for their fragrance. China. Syn. V. AwafukL 



V. OPULUS (Guelder Rose}. A handsome 

 and often rather tall native bush, frequent in 

 the underwoods of many districts. In the 

 wild form the outer flowers only of the cyme 

 are sterile, and these are about three-quarters 

 of an inch across ; the centre is filled with 

 small perfect flowers. In autumn this plant is 

 valued for its clusters of fine red fruits and for 

 the colour of its leaves. Of its best known 

 varieties, is the VAR. STERILE (the common 

 Guelder Rose}. This has few or no perfect 

 flowers, the whole truss consisting of the 

 more showy barren ones. This causes it to 

 lose its flatness and makes it much more 

 rounded, which, together with the pure white- 

 ness of the flowers, has led to its being popu- 

 larly known as the Snowball Tree. A yellow 

 fruited kind differs from the type in the fruits 

 being yellow instead of red when ripe. 



V. SIEBOLDI. A handsome and distinct 

 evergreen bush, with large glossy leaves and 

 large heads of white flowers, in May and June 

 in southern England. A promising kind, at 

 least for districts where our evergreens usually 

 escape the effects of hard winters. 



V. TINUS (Laurustinus}. A beautiful and 

 fragrant evergreen, thriving over a large area 



