White Flowers 191 



AUGUST 

 WHITE SHRUBS 



ANGELICA TREE, HERCULES CLUB (Aralia spinosd). 6-20 ft. A 

 low shrub or tree with a stout trunk covered with sharp prickles. A 

 secondary growth springs up about the stem making a group of smaller 

 ones on every side. These can be removed if a tree form is desired. 

 When young, in autumn, the large stems, having served as branches, 

 fall off as well as the leaves, and it appears to be more dead than alive. 

 In spring it quickly reclothes itself, sending out compound leaves two 

 feet long and half as broad. These form a cluster at the top of stem that 

 are two feet long in a twice or thrice pinnate arrangement. The flowers 

 are white in compound panicles and these great heads with their clusters 

 of flowers and huge leaves look like a tropical palm in blossom. Give 

 a shaded and sheltered position, as the top is too heavy to stand high 

 winds. A rapid grower, especially in a moist situation. 



DIMORPHANTHUS MANDSCHURicus, a hardy variety of Aralia 

 Chinensis. 3-5 ft. A handsome shrub with horizontal branches, 

 leaves spiny, finely divided, arranged tri-pinnately, giving a fine tropical 

 foliage effect. Flowers white, in many-stemmed broad terminal clusters. 

 Hardy if given a dry porous soil and sunny, sheltered spot. 



HYDRANGEA (H. paniculata, var. grandiflora), 4-6 ft. This is one 

 of the showiest of August flowers, and perfectly hardy. It bears great 

 elongated clusters of white blossoms, the fewer the clusters allowed, the 

 larger the size. It needs a deep rich soil and plenty of water. Although 

 pruning may also be done early in the spring, it is advisable to cut 

 almost to the ground in late autumn, then new shoots arise in con- 

 siderable numbers, and each will bear a cluster during the season; 

 otherwise the old wood grows tall and becomes bare. This variety does 

 not turn pink and blue as does H. hortensis, which is a tender greenhouse 

 variety. The color of the latter is very capricious, being secured in 

 many ways, yet none is to be depended upon always. Alum water, 

 sheep's dung, different soils, common salt, ancl steel filings at times 

 produce the much desired blue tinge, yet not invariably successful. 

 Propagated by division of root and cuttings taken in August or spring 

 from the tops of the strongest shoots not bearing flowers. 



SPIREA SORBIFOLIA, known also as Sorbaria sorbifolia. 3-6 ft. Large 

 white flowers in panicles. It may freeze to the ground, but the new 



