26 



Ornamental Shrubs. 



appear in tree form, thus affording a round, well-shaped 



head on an upright stem, at such height as may be de- 

 sired. With the Japanese it is said 

 to be the favorite among azaleas, 

 and is largely grown. It rises to a 

 height of three to four feet, having 

 deciduous leaves, elliptic in form, 

 with ciliated margins, green above 

 and almost silvery-gray beneath. 

 The flowers of the type are cam- 

 panulate, somewhat downy, and 

 flame-colored. But some of the 

 varieties produced from seedlings 

 and by hybridization furnish gor- 

 geous blossoms of white, yellow, 

 and orange, each in some cases 

 more or less tinted. They appear 



early and, being large, are very showy. The A. mollis 



needs only to be known to 



be appreciated as among the 



best of the class. 



A. nudiflora, known as 



the wood-honeysuckle, is an 



excellent little shrub for 



planting in the border or in 



groups. It is of American 



origin, and is quite common 



in most parts of the United 



States. In some respects it azalea nudiflora. 



resembles the pontica and its hybrids, but is quite inferior 



azalea mollis. 



