FLOWERING SHRUBS AND TREES 51 



become naturalised on rough, rocky ground in some 

 localities in the south of England, where it grows into a 

 large shrub. Though not strikingly handsome it has its 

 attractive points. 



Prunus. — The Plum tribe furnishes us with many 

 beautiful spring-flowering trees. P. Davidiana is the 

 earliest to bloom, often commencing to flower in January. 

 Of this there are two varieties, one with white blossoms and 

 the other with pink. The former is the freest flowerer. 

 P. Pissardii, a handsome, bronze-leaved species, produces 

 its white flowers in March. Before the blossoms have 

 withered the leaves begin to expand, and being in their 

 youth amber-brown in colour make a happy comple- 

 ment to the white flowers. P. triloba florepleno is another 

 lovely little tree with double rose-coloured blossoms. 



Pyrus. — The well-known P. japonica may be seen in 

 the early spring, brightening many a white-washed 

 cottage wall with its scarlet flowers. It succeeds 

 equally well as a bush. P. Maulei bears orange-red 

 flowers, followed by golden-yellow fruit. P. malus 

 fioribunda is a charming sight when in flower, the buds 

 being crimson and the expanded flowers flesh-pink. 



Rhodotypos kerrioidesJ — Sometimes called the white 

 Kerria. A pretty shrub, with single white flowers pro- 

 duced in July. It grows to a height of ten feet. 



Rhus cotinus. — Venetian Sumach. A most ornamental 

 shrub, producing masses of purplish-crimson, feathery in- 

 florescence in the late summer. Its autumnal tints are also 

 very bright, though not equalling those of R. cotinoides 

 and R. typhina. It should have an isolated position, 

 where it will attain a height of fourteen feet or more. 



Ribes. — Flowering Currant. R. sanguineum and its 

 white variety are common spring-flowering shrubs. 

 The yellow R. aureum is less known, but is pleasing 

 when in blossom, but R. speciosum is the handsomest of 

 its race, producing deep crimson, fuchsia-like flowers 



