882 



Gardening for Amateurs 



Shrubs with Ornamental Foliage 



REFERENCE has already been made 

 to shrubs and trees which possess 

 variegated leaves, or foliage that is 

 otherwise of special interest, but others 

 well deserve attention. Not that all 

 variegated-leaved plants are improvements 

 on their respective types ; far from it, 

 for some are decidedly ugly, but the 

 best are an asset to the garden, and when 

 judiciously grouped constitute an attractive 

 feature. It is usual to form beds of the 

 smaller kinds, or those that can be kept 

 fairly small by pruning, whereas those that 

 grow naturally into larger trees are often used 

 as single specimens. As a rule they give 

 little trouble and need only an annual 

 pruning or an occasional thinning to prevent 

 overcrowding, and generally they thrive 

 in any good garden soil. Very often such 

 beds are carpeted with dwarf bulbous 

 plants, such as Crocuses, Snowdrops, or 

 Chionodoxas, and as some of the deciduous 

 plants which have variegated leaves have 

 also brightly-coloured stems, the spring 

 effect is quite pleasing, even when most of 

 the shrubs are leafless. As a rule, groups of 

 shrubs with coloured foliage are most effec- 

 tive when each variety is represented by 

 groups of three plants, but even single speci- 

 mens of each kind are showy. 



Purple-leaved Shrubs. The Corylus 

 maxima var. atropurpurea is an attractive 

 purple-leaved Nut. Another useful purple - 

 leaved plant is Prunus cerasifera atropur- 

 purea, which may be grown to any height 

 from 3 to 12 feet. Then there is a purple- 

 leaved Barberry in Berberis vulgaris foliis- 

 purpureis ; the common Sloe has also a 

 purple-leaved variety, while a purple-leaved 

 Peach may be obtained. Some very beauti- 

 ful purple-foliaged shrubs are found among 

 the Japanese Maples, notably Acer palma- 

 tum atropurpureum. These Maples offer a 

 wide selection of ornamental-leaved shrubs. 

 A. japonicum provides a number of varieties, 

 of which aureum is very showy. But it is 

 to A. palmatum that we must look for 

 the best. In this we find the yellow-leaved 

 aureum, the multi-coloured roseo-margin- 



atum, the red sanguineum, and so on. Then 

 groups of other varieties are distinct and 

 ornamental by reason of their finely-lobed 

 leaves. Two special groups are Septemlobum 

 and Dissectum ; any of the various named 

 forms of these groups may be planted 

 without hesitation. They are particularly 

 attractive when first breaking into leaf, and 

 again as the leaves are about to fall. The 

 Japanese Maples must not, however, be 

 planted in very cold districts. Another Acer 

 of distinct merit is A. platanoides var. 

 Schwedleri. This, however, is a large tree. 

 The various purple-leaved Beeches have 

 been mentioned in another chapter. 



Golden-leaved Shrubs. Amongst the 

 golden-leaved shrubs there is nothing to 

 surpass Cornus alba var. Spathii for general 

 worth. It is quite hardy and its golden- 

 variegation remains good throughout summer. 

 As its bark is bright red it is very effective 

 during winter. The Golden Elder, Sam- 

 bucus Canadensis foliis aureis, is showy, but 

 should only be planted in places where it 

 can be given plenty of room. It may be 

 cut down each spring. A better plant for a 

 mixed bed is found in the golden form of 

 S. racemosa known as plumosa aurea. The 

 leaves are richly coloured and divided into 

 fine segments. Then we have Xeillia opuli- 

 folia lutea, and a yellow-leaved form of the 

 Mock Orange, Philadelphia coronarius, both 

 pretty in spring, but liable to lose their 

 colour later in the year. Taller-growing 

 shrubs with golden leaves are Catalpa big- 

 nonioides aurea, Acer negundo californicum 

 aureum, Populus monilifera aurea, Ulmus 

 Louis van Houtte, and Ulmus montana 

 fastigiata aurea. Then there are various 

 evergreens such as Hollies, Privets, Ivies, 

 Aucubas, and Euonymus. Silver - leaved 

 shrubs are found in Atriplex halimus, 

 A. confertifolia, Elaeagnus argentea, Cotton 

 Lavender. Acer negundo variegatum, Hollies, 

 Ivies, Euonymus radicans Silver Gem and 

 japonicus argenteo-variegatis and Kerria 

 japonica variegata. 



Amongst green-leaved shrubs that may 

 be recommended for their handsome foliage 



