Pwftti " 



,•> '"', yir- 





Tamarix Amurensis is the most resistant of this family of feathery looking shrubs. 

 Always head low as shown 



The common snowball (Viburnum Opulus, var. sterilis) still holds its own in trying 



situations 



Shrubs That Are Really Hardy— By J. H. Spencer, 



Iowa 



A DOZEN WELL TRIED FAVORITES THAT ENDURE THE MOST TRYING WINTER COLD — RELIABLE STANDBYS 

 THAT ARE GOOD FOR THE BEGINNER TO USE AND THAT MAY BE SAFELY PLANTED IN ANY GARDEN 



SCORES of shrubs are catalogued 

 by some of the leading nurseries, 

 yet from them all one can scarcely 

 pick more than a dozen that are 

 thoroughly satisfactory in the cold climate 

 of the Northwest — say in northern Iowa, 

 Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Dakotas. 

 Really it is surprising that only a few good 

 shrubs for present-day use in this section 

 were absent from the gardens of 25 to 50 

 years ago, though many new varieties 

 have been tried and most of them found 

 wanting. 



OLD FAVORITES 



The lilac is as much prized to-day as a 

 quarter of a century ago — more so, indeed, 

 if one were to judge by the comparative 

 scarcity of lilacs on their own roots. There 

 are at least three kinds that are thoroughly 

 reliable in cold climates. These are the 

 common purple, the common white, and 

 the Rouen {Syringa Rothmagensis) . The 

 first two are best for cut flowers, as they 

 do not wilt quickly when cut. Otherwise 

 the Rouen (quite commonly called the 

 Persian) is the best, as the quality and size 

 of the flower clusters are amazing, while 

 the foliage is cleaner and better than that 

 of the common lilac. 



I am to-day just as much attached to 

 the well-known garland syringa or mock 

 orange (Philadelphus coronarius) as when 

 I first took an interest in it ever so many 

 years ago. It seldom or never has an 

 "off" year, and the fragrant and beautiful 

 white flowers appear in great profusion 

 each June. The shrub grows to a height 

 of 10 feet or more, but may be kept low 

 and bushy by pruning; indeed, it makes 

 a very good hedge. It is an extra good 

 plant for a shady location, though it does 

 even better in full sunshine. One can 



obtain a goodly number of plants by 

 transplanting the seedlings that appear 

 under and near the shrub. There are also 

 dwarf sorts of the family that are very 

 good, and among the newer Lemoine forms 

 introduced from France are some with 

 most striking flowers that will surely be- 

 come popular in time. 



Another "old-fashioned" shrub not half 

 appreciated is the bush honeysuckle (L. 

 Tatarica). What is prettier in summer 

 than a well-shaped bush of this shrub, 

 covered with red berries? The foliage is 

 clean and green even in hot, dry weather. 

 The abundant flowers are pretty on the 

 bush, but to really appreciate them small 

 branches must be cut off and laid on a white 

 table spread. Neither foliage nor flowers 

 will wilt out of water, and the effect is 

 beautiful. The branches should be cut 

 just before the flowers open wide. 



Several excellent varieties of bush honey- 

 suckle may be purchased, some with white 

 flowers, others with pink. It is well to 

 ask the nurseryman for the hardiest variety 

 that bears the most abundant fruit. Per- 

 haps the best is Lonicera Morrowii. Like 

 the lilac, the bush honeysuckle needs a 

 sunny location. 



MOST POPULAR SHRUBS 



The bridal wreath spirea {S. Van Houttei) 

 has deservingly become the most popular 

 shrub in many parts of the Northwest. 

 Its branches are graceful and drooping. 

 When in bloom the leaves are about hidden 

 by masses of pure white flowers. Plant 

 it anywhere and it will thrive — even close 

 to the north wall of the house where sun- 

 shine does not penetrate. Use it as a 

 hedge plant, and run the hedgerow under 

 the greedy elms, and still it does not become 

 discouraged. Bridal wreath revels in a wet 



95 



season, but the driest weather will not 

 kill it. Thus it is not surprising that 

 bridal wreath has become so popular, and 

 that it is almost as useful as the geranium. 

 Even the charge that it is becoming "com- 

 mon" does not seem to discourage its use. 

 An improvement on it, however, is the 

 newer Spirea arguta, not as well known as 

 it should be; but it is not quite as hardy. 



Next to bridal wreath probably the 

 best liked shrub is the large flowering 

 hydrangea (H. paniculata, var. grandifl ora) . 

 Flowers would be scarce in August if it 

 were not for this showy shrub, with its 

 large, white, flower clusters, becoming 

 pinkish as they age and persisting into 

 winter. It is excellent as a specimen 

 plant, in the foreground of a mass of 

 shrubbery, or as an ornamental hedge 

 plant. As with the Japanese barberry, a 

 good soaking during dry weather is essen- 

 tial, but, unlike the barberry, an early 

 spring pruning does it good. 



PLANT SHRUBS FOR THEIR BERRIES 



Red berries that hang on the leafless 

 branches until spring add greatly to the 

 winter appearance of the home grounds, 

 especially when the ground is white with 

 snow. Last winter I found a wonderful 

 display of these berries hanging from clumps 

 of highbush cranberry {Viburnum Opulus) 

 planted about the railroad station in a 

 little town in northern Wisconsin. It was 

 a warm greeting on a cold day that I shall 

 not soon forget! This tall native shrub 

 is well named, and it revels in good .soil 

 and a sunny location. It is the single 

 form of the common snowball. 



It has been said in these columns that 

 the snowberry {Symphoricarpos racemosus) 

 is one of the poorest of the berry-bearing 

 shrubs. We of the Northwest do not 



