HAEDY ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS. 



295 



ornamental as a single specimen ; usually grafted or 

 budded on stems of the common Cherry ; native country 

 uncertain. Other species deserving of separate mention 

 are: — 



C. Chamcecerasus. — A dwarf spreading shrub 3 or 4 feet 

 high, producing an abundance of white flowers in May. 

 Very pretty as a standard on the common Cherry. Cen- 

 tral Europe and Siberia, 1587. 



C japonica (Primus chinensis). — A slender shrub 2 to 

 4 feet high, with pink and white flowers ; suitable for a 

 wall. There is a handsome double -flowered variety named 

 multiplex. 



C. Laurocerasus, Common Laurel or Cherry Laurel. — 

 This favourite shrub should not be planted for a hedge 

 where a permanent screen is desired, as in very severe 

 winters it is liable to be cut down to the ground. There 

 are several varieties; among the large-leaved ones cau- 

 casica is at the same time the hardiest and the hand- 

 somest ; it has rich dark-green foliage, broadest above 

 the middle. The variety colchica is of more spreading 

 habit, with narrower serrated leaves; rotundifolia has 

 nearly orbicular leaves. A French variety known as 

 the Versailles Laurel has leaves of immense size. Asia 

 Minor, &c, 1629. 



C. lusitanica, Portugal Laurel. — This is much hardier 

 than the Common Laurel, with darker-green, smaller and 

 more pointed leaves, and is one of the most valuable ever- 

 greens we possess. There is a variety with smaller leaves 

 and denser habit, called myrtifolia; another with large 

 leaves called azorica. Portugal, &c, 1648. 



C. Padus, Bird- Cherry. — An indigenous tree 20 to 30 

 feet high. It bears in May long racemes of white flowers, 

 which are very ornamental but of short duration. A 

 double-flowered variety is much superior. C. virginiana 

 is a similar tree, of more slender habit. 



C. Pseudocerasus. — A small tree 10 feet or more high, 

 flowering in April and May, flowers single or double, 

 white or rosy pink. China, 1819. There are numerous 

 forms of this beautiful Cherry. Watereri is one of the 

 best. Some new single forms have recently been intro- 

 duced from Japan. 



C. serrulata. — A 

 beautiful species with 

 semi - double white or 

 rosy flowers produced 

 in April. Its leaves are 

 obovate, pointed, and 

 serrate. It can usually 

 be distinguished by its 

 curious growth, the 

 main stem of the tree 

 being erect for about 

 4 or 6 feet, and then 

 separating into three 

 or four branches that 

 take almost horizontal 

 directions. China, 1822. 



Cercis. — Small irre- 

 gularly branching trees, 

 with heart-shaped or 

 kidney - shaped leaves, 

 and clustered reddish - 

 purple, rose, or white 

 flowers. 



O. canadensis. — A smaller tree than the last, with 

 more pointed leaves, and fewer pale-rose flowers. North 

 America, 1730. 



C. chinensis (C. japonica). — In foliage this resembles 



Fig. 358.— Chimonanthus fragrans. (§.) 



the last, but the rosy-pink flowers are larger, very abun- 

 dant, and produced all along the branches in spring before 

 the appearance of the leaves. 



C. Siliquastrum, Judas-tree. — About 20 feet high; 

 flowers rosy purple, produced in spring before the leaves 



Fig. 359.— Chionanthus retusus. (£.) 



are fully developed. There is also a white - flowered 

 variety. Western Asia, 1596. 



Chimonanthus fragrans (C. prcecox) (fig. 358). — A 

 slender branching shrub with lanceolate leaves, and 

 fragrant yellow and purple rosette flowers an inch across, 

 appearing in winter before the leaves unfold. A very de- 

 sirable shrub for a wall, or sheltered place in the south. 

 The variety grandiflora has larger, brighter flowers though 

 not so fragrant. Japan, 1776. 



Chionanthus retusus (fig. 359). — A shrub 5 to 6 feet 

 high, leaf long-stalked, retuse, woolly beneath. Flowers 

 white and fragrant. China and Japan, 1850. 



C. virginica, Fringe-tree. — A large shrub or small tree. 

 with simple leaves, and drooping clusters of pure-white 

 flowers, having narrow fringe-like petals, and succeeded 

 by purple drupes. Will flourish in a moist sandy peat or 

 loam. North America, 1796. 



Choisya ternata (fig. 360). — An evergreen shrub allied 

 to the Rue. It has glossy green ternate leaves and char- 

 mingly scented Orange-like white flowers. It is hard}-, 

 but likes shelter. Mexico, 1825. 



Cistus. — A genus of many species chiefly from the 

 Mediterranean region, and only suitable for dry, warm 

 situations, and for the south and west coasts. They have 

 undivided, often glutinous leaves, and large showy, though 

 evanescent flowers. They deserve to be more generally 

 planted on the sea-coasts named. They do not bear trans- 

 planting very well and therefore should be grown in pots 

 in the nursery. The following are some of the hardier 

 species. 



C. cyprius. — This grows about 5 or 6 feet high, and is 

 very near the true Gum Cistus, but it has large, solitary 

 flowers, and stalked leaves. The petals are white with 

 a purple blotch at the base. Cyprus, 1S00. 



