160 The American Flower Garden 



RETINISPORA, JAPAN CYPRESS (Chamcecyparis pisifera). Usually 3 

 to 6 feet. The most decorative of all the conifers. Only the young 

 plants are in cultivation. The mature trees are never used for 

 garden planting, having totally different habit and appearance. 

 Beautiful feathery foliage. Slow growth. Usually used in orna- 

 mental groups or as lawn specimens. Var. filifera has long drooping 

 branches and thread-like branchlets; foliage, light green. Var. 

 plumosa has short branches with feathery effect. Var. plumosa 

 aurea is similar, but golden yellow. Much used for bedding. 



Var. squarrosa is silvery blue. (C. obtusa). Differs from the 



preceding in having dark green arborvitae-like branches. Var. 

 nana is much trained in dwarf forms by the Japanese. All the 

 retinisporas want very rich soil to do well. 



RHODODENDRON, ROSE BAY, GREAT LAUREL (Rhododendron maxi- 

 mum). Large shrub or small tree. Up to 35 feet, but usually seen 

 about 6 feet. Without exception the most important broad-leaved 

 evergreen for massing. Planted by the carload. Very hardy 

 through the coldest winters. Leaves whitish beneath, 4 to 10 

 inches long. Flowers white or pale pink with greenish spots inside. 

 June, July. Demands open soil, well drained, but not over dry. 

 Shows a distinct dislike of lime, but can be grown in limestone soils 

 in beds excavated for several feet and filled in with fresh compost, 

 largely peat and leaf-mould. Hardy into Canada. Transplant by 



preference from a turfy soil. , CATAWBA (R. Catawbiense). 



Shrub. Usually 6 feet; rarely 20 feet. Less hardy than maximum. 

 Leaves, glaucous beneath, 3 to 5 inches long. Flowers lilac-purple. 

 June. An important shrub for massing south of New England. 

 , HYBRIDS (R. Catawbiense and R. Ponticum y a tender spe- 

 cies). Among the most beautiful conspicuously flowered evergreens. 

 There are numerous varieties offered. Large globe-like trusses of 

 flowers appearing in May, June. Some of the most popular varie- 

 ties are: Delicatissimum, blush white, tinted pink; Everestianum, 

 rosy lilac spotted and fringed, the most popular of all the hybrids; 

 Caractacus, purple crimson; C. S. Sargent, bright scarlet; Roseum 

 superbum, light rose; Charles Dickens, dark scarlet; Gloriosa, bluish 

 white; Album elegans, white; H. H. Hunnewell, dark crimson. 



ROSEMARY, WILD (Andromeda pcli folia). Narrow, leaves, if inches 

 long, with revolute margins, whitish beneath. Flowers nodding. 



