490 DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. 



flowers, which are white, and about one and a half inches in diame- 

 ter, are borne in clusters from four to six inches long, from June to 

 September. It requires a sheltered situation, and a moist soil. In 

 autumn the leaves turn to a fine deep-red color. 



The Heart-leaved Hydrangea, ff. cordata, has large foliage 

 and small flowers : the tree-like, H. arborescms, is a native of Penn-. 

 sylvania and Virginia ; the bush, leaf, and flower being smaller 

 than the preceding : the snowy-leaved, or hoary-leaved, H. canescens, 

 is a low shrub of the southern States, with flowers larger than the 

 preceding, and leaves white and velvety beneath. The involucrata 

 is said to be a hardy and unusually erect variety. 



The Japan Hydrangea. H. deutziafolia {H. paniculata gran- 

 diflord). — This variety, but recently introduced into this country, 

 bids fair to be quite the most valuable of the hydrangeas. It seems 

 to be hardy in the Central Park, with straw protection in winter, and. 

 there forms magnificent masses of fine leaves and flowers, bloom- 

 ing profusely from the first of August until frosts. The leaves are 

 large, abundant, and of a dark bright glossy green color. The 

 flowers are larger than those of the old box-hydrangea, of a creamy- 

 white color, and waxy texture. They grow in immense spikes six 

 inches or more long, and of equal breadth, and turn to a purplish- 

 pink color as the season advances. Height and breadth of busk 

 from three to five feet 



THE HYPERICUM, OR ST. JOHNSWORT. Hypericum. 



Low sub-evergreen shrubs suitable for shady places. The va- 

 rieties H. prolificum and H. kalmianum are broad, compact, low 

 shrubs, two to three feet high, with small elliptical leaves, and 

 corymbs of small yellow flowers in July and August, and are highly- 

 valued (especially the latter) for their neat compact growth and the- 

 warm tone of the foliage. The H. calycinum is an evergreen trail- 

 ing species with much larger leaves and flowers, the latter of i 

 bright-golden color, which is greatly esteemed for planting among 

 rocks and trees in very shady places. The root creeps and stoles, 

 so that the plant extends itself rapidly over the surface. 



