GOOD TREES AND SHRUBS 233 



Leiophyllum buxifolium is a dainty little evergreen shrub intro- 

 duced from the sandy plains of New Jersey upwards of 150 years ago. 

 It is little known, exceedingly beautiful in flower, and well adapted for 

 the rock-garden. It should always be planted in a peaty soil. The 

 Sand Myrtle, as it is sometimes called, does not exceed one foot in 

 height in fact, it is not often more than six inches high; is of dense 

 compact habit, with tiny deep green leaves, and in early summer ter- 

 minal clusters of small white flowers and rose-pink buds. 



Lespedeza bicolor, also known as Desmodium penduliflorum, an 

 uncommon deciduous shrub of graceful habit, is hardier than is generally 

 supposed. It is indigenous to China and Japan, and bears an abundance 

 of reddish-purple flowers in long slender racemes. It grows upwards 

 of six feet high, and succeeds best in peat loam and leaf-mould, and re- 

 quires good drainage. In very cold localities it should be planted against 

 a wall. 



Leycesteria formosa, a fairly well-known Himalayan deciduous 

 shrub, has pendulous racemes of white flowers touched with purple, and 

 conspicuous purple bracts hang from the axils of the leaves in autumn. 

 The flowers are followed by showy berries. It flourishes in ordinary 

 soil, and is quite a success under the shade of trees. It may be planted 

 as a cover for game. 



Ligustrum (Privet). No soil seems too poor or position too ex- 

 posed for the ordinary forms of Ligustrum or Privet. As a hedge-plant 

 L. ovalifoUum (Oval-leaved Privet) is planted by the million ; but care 

 is necessary, as it has often been injudiciously used. Although the 

 golden-leaved form, L. o. foliis aureis, sometimes met with as Californi- 

 cum, is not so free in growth as the type, it is very effective when 

 used with discretion. It dislikes full sunlight and succeeds admirably 

 in towns. L. sinense, a much branched half-evergreen shrub from 

 China, is not only welcome for its abundance of cream-white flowers, 

 but also for its black berries, which as a rule hang upon the bushes 

 for several months. L. lucidum, introduced from China more than 

 a hundred years ago, has charming flowers. It is erect and grows 

 about twelve feet high, and in autumn bears loose panicles of white 

 flowers in profusion. The variety with variegated leaves, named 

 tricolor, is very showy, but less vigorous than the type. L. QuiTwui, 

 also from China, a splendid shrub for dry soils, is of rather straggling 

 habit, and looks best planted in groups. As it flowers so late in the 

 season it should be planted largely in public parks and open spaces. 

 Its flowering period is from September to the middle of October, but 

 in mild seasons blooms on until early November. Its flowers are cream 

 white, sweet scented, and borne in rather slender panicles. L. japoni- 

 cum is of sturdy habit, six feet or so high, with glossy green leaves 

 and large panicles of white flowers about the middle of July. 



Liquidambar Styraciflua. The value of this rather slow-growing 

 North American Sweet Gum-tree is not in its flowers, for they are far 

 from showy, but in its autumn effect in the landscape, as its smooth leaves 

 at that season of the year assume mahogany-brown, crimson, and allied 

 colours. It is a splendid tree for small avenues, succeeding best in 



