DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. 465 



bloom by the lilacs and other shrubs, and in delicacy by the deut- 

 zias, its masses of foliage when out of bloom are not surpassed by 

 any. The variety of syringas is not large, and the common sort, 

 first named below, is still unsurpassed in fragrance of flowers and 

 beauty of foliage by the newer sorts. 



The Common Syringa. F. vulgaris. — This forms a shrub 

 from eight to ten feet high, and spreads at maturity like the head 

 of an elm. It is early in leaf; the foliage is luxuriant and breaks 

 into fine masses ; the flowers in May and June are white, single, 

 about the size of an apple-blossom, and noted for their fragrance. 



The Double-flowering. P. flore plena. — This forms a smaller 

 bush than the above, has semi-double flowers at the same time ; 

 also fragrant. 



Zeyher's Syringa, P. zeyheri, is noted for the size it attains, 

 forming a spreading bush twelve to fifteen feet high, with larger and 

 less abundant flowers than the preceding, and but slightly fragrant. 



Gordon's Syringa. P. Gordonii. — A large round-headed 

 shrub eight to ten feet high, blooming a month or more later than 

 the other sorts. Flowers large, white, and scentless. Its slender 

 side-shoots give it the appearance of a weeping habit. Foliage a 

 bright green. 



The Showy-flowered Syringa. P. speciosa or grandiflora. — 

 A large bending-branched shrub, ten to fourteen feet high, bearing 

 large white scentless flowers in June. 



The Dwarf Syringa. P. nana. — But two to three feet high, 

 and grows like a cabbage with in-curved branches. A shy bloomer, 

 but a pretty shrub. When syringa bushes make too long and ram- 

 bling growth, they are improved by heading back. 



THE VIBURNUMS. Viburnum. 



This family of shrubs embraces a few evergreens, but is 

 best known through its popular representative, the showy snow- 

 ball viburnum, or guelder rose, V. opulus. The foliage varies 

 widely in the different species. The evergreen species is known as 

 the laurustinus, V. tinus laurifolia, and has laurel-like leaves, thick 

 30 



