MY SHRUBS om 
seen in prosperity. I have flowered it, and, on better plants than 
mine, admired a dozen of the red bells hanging together in the 
crisp, dark green foliage. Probably moisture, and plenty of it, is 
necessary, with a soil free from lime. The best piece that I have 
seen—a respectable bush—prospered in full sunshine, though 
some experts advocate half shade. 
Phillyrea decora, the Jasmine Box, is a hardy evergreen with 
pretty pointed foliage and a small, white spring inflorescence of 
great sweetness. It prospers in half shade in peat with me, though 
is not, I fancy, particular. Other species of this South European 
shrub are equally satisfactory and easy, but I know not if they 
possess the same fine fragrance. 
Phlomis fruticosa, the Jerusalem Sage, is an old favourite from 
the Mediterranean, whose hoary foliage and dusky yellow whorls 
of flowers remind me of childhood. Then I was wont to pluck 
the trumpets for the honey drop at the bottom of them. A hardy 
shrub is this, and a great grower in some hot rough corner. 
Photinia serrulata is a handsome Chinese tree, and here it attains 
to full size and makes a splendid specimen; but much room is 
needed for this beautiful flowering evergreen, and I am on visiting 
terms with some excellent examples, so need it not. 
Phylica is a South African, with most distinctive dusky green 
and silver grey foliage. The inflorescence is trifling, but the habit 
most handsome and striking. The species are two: P. buxifolia 
and P. ericoides. I have seen Phykca happy in Cornwall, but it 
is not hardy, and at Kew a temperate house harbours this fine 
thing. 
Physianthus albens is a climber from Brazil, hardy in our sheltered 
nooks by the sea. It attains to great size when prosperous, and 
