48 THE BOOK OF THE WILD GARDEN 



blossoming at the end of March and beginning of 

 April, when they form masses of gold visible from a 

 long distance. F. suspensa, the shoots of which are 

 pendulous, is generally trained to a wall, but its effect 

 is far prettier if it is planted in an elevated position and 

 allowed to droop gracefully over a high, perpendicular 

 bank or cliff-edge. F. viridissima forms a shrub of erect 

 growth, and F. intermedia, said to be a cross between 

 the two named, has arching shoots. 



Garrya elliptica. — Although a native of California this 

 decorative shrub is hardy as far north as Scotland. Its 

 season of beauty is the winter, when it is covered with 

 pale green catkins, which are shown up well against the 

 dark foliage. Some of these catkins are a foot in length, 

 and a large shrub will bear many hundreds. The Garrya 

 grows to a height of fifteen feet, and to a like diameter. 



Genista hispanica. — A compact, little, spreading shrub 

 rarely exceeding two feet in height. It has spiny shoots, 

 and is a mass of yellow flowers in May. 



Halesia tetraptera. — Snowdrop Tree. A native of 

 North America and very beautiful, bearing white snow- 

 drop-like flowers hanging from its branches. It does 

 well by the waterside, and grows to a height of twenty 

 feet or more. Like all white-flowered trees it requires 

 a dark background to be seen to the best advantage. 



Hamamelis arborea. — An interesting little tree from 

 Japan, bearing quantities of bright yellow flowers on its 

 leafless branches in January. The flowers are very 

 curious, the petals resembling narrow strips of twisted 

 gold leaf. Like the Chimonanthus, it is most striking 

 when seen against a Yew background. 



Hydrangea. — H. Hortensia, though a tub-plant over the 

 greater part of Britain, should be largely planted out in 

 the warmer districts. It does well in open woods and 

 beneath deciduous trees, its flowers being sometimes of 

 a delightful clear blue tint and remaining in beauty for 



