156 HARDY ORNAMENTAL 



terminal and axillary clusters. It has stood unharmed for 

 several years in Southern England, so may be regarded as 

 at least fairly hardy. Its neat dwarf growth, and flowering 

 as it does when hardly a foot high, renders it a choice 

 subject for the Alpine garden. 



R. Rhodoea (syn Rhodora canadensis). — North America, 

 1767. In general aspect this shrub resembles an Azalea, 

 but it comes into flower long even before R. molle. Being 

 deciduous, and producing its pretty purplish sweet-scented 

 flowers in early spring, gives to the plant a particular 

 value for gardening purposes, clumps of the shrub being 

 most effective at the very time when flowers are at their 

 scarcest. It thrives well in any peaty soil, and is quite 

 hardy. 



R. vaseyi. — Carolina, 1888. This is a hardy species of 

 robust growth, which flowers freely even in a young state. 

 The flowers are of a bright, clear pink with darker mark- 

 ings at the base of the upper lobes. 



R. viscosum (syn Azalea viscosa). — Clammy Azalea, or 

 Swamp Honeysuckle. North America, 1734. This is one 

 of the hardiest, most floriferous, and easily managed of 

 the family. The white or rose and deliciously fragrant 

 flowers are produced in great abundance, and impart when 

 at their best quite a charm to the shrub. It delights in 

 rather moist, peaty soil, and grows all the stronger and 

 flowers all the more freely when surrounded by rising 

 ground or tall trees at considerable distance away. The 

 variety R. viscosum glaucum has leaves paler than those 

 of the species ; and R. viscosum nitidum, of dwarf, compact 

 growth, has leaves deep green on both sides. 



R. Wilsoni, a cross between R. ciliatum and R. 

 glaucum, is of remarkably neat growth, and worthy of 

 cultivation where small-sized kinds are a desideratum. 



The following Himalayan species have been found to 

 thrive well in the warmer parts of England, and in close 

 proximity to the sea: — R. argenteum, R. arboreum, R. 



