HARDY CLIMBING SHRUBS 63 



The Japanese Wistaria is erratic in the matter of 

 flowering and if raised from seeds decades may pass 

 before any flowers appear. Grafts from flowering 

 plants should be used in propagating and by this 

 means plants only three to four feet tall will blossom. 



One of the most vigorous, hardy, and popular of 

 all stem-climbers is Actinidia arguta, a native of 

 Japan, which has glossy green leaves with red stalks 

 and small, saucer-shaped white flowers with numer- 

 ous stamens and black anthers. There are two forms 

 of this and all other species of Actinidia, one with 

 purely male flowers and another with perfect flowers. 

 The latter bears fruits which are edible and which 

 may be made into a preserve. Two other hardy 

 Japanese species of Actinidia (A. kolomikta and A. 

 polygamd) are in cultivation and in these a varying 

 number of the foliage leaves are white passing to pink- 

 ish and increase the attractiveness of these plants. 

 Unfortunately cats have a strong partiality for A. 

 polygama, clawing and tearing it into shreds, and good 

 examples are rarely seen. Those desiring to grow 

 this climber must protect it from cats by wire netting. 

 The handsomest of all the Actinidias and one of the 

 most beautiful of all climbers is A. chinensis and it is 

 much to be regretted that this valuable new plant is 

 not hardy so far north as Boston, Mass. It is a vig- 



