CLIMBERS 



65 



gale, whose mighty trunk has been removed to the 

 saw-pit. There are other exotic species that may well 

 be added to our native Honeysuckle, such as L. Capri- 

 folium, L.flexuosa, L. japonica and L. sempervirens . 



Menispermum. — M. canadense is a hardy, deciduous 

 climber bearing small, yellow flowers, and having large 

 somewhat vine-shaped leaves. It will succeed equally 

 well in the shade or in full sunshine. 



Muhlenbeckia. — M. complexa, although a native of 

 New Zealand, is fairly hardy. A plant growing by the 

 side of a garden waterfall was a solid sheet of ice for 

 many weeks during the severe frost of the early part of 

 1895, yet broke again well when warmer weather 

 returned. In the southern counties it often climbs to 

 a height of fifteen feet, threading its wiry shoots through 

 the densest shrubs and hedges, and forming a mass of 

 entangled growth which, with the tiny green leaves set 

 on the slender black stems, looks, at first sight, not 

 unlike a thicket of Maidenhair. 



Periploca graca. — A hardy deciduous twiner, bearing 

 small brownish flowers. It may be planted for variety, 

 but has no special beauty to commend it. 



Polygonum balds chuanicum — A climbing Knotweed from 

 Bokhara, introduced a few years back. It is a most 

 attractive plant, bearing large pendent clusters of small 

 lavender flowers in great profusion. It is admirably 

 fitted for clambering over small evergreen trees, such 

 as members of the Pine family, which it will garland 

 with its softy-tinted blossoms for many weeks. It is a 

 vigorous grower, perfectly hardy, and will succeed in any 

 soil, but flowers best in full sunlight. It is deciduous. 



Passiflora. — The blue Passion Flower is an old 

 favourite, introduced from Brazil over 200 years ago. 

 It is far hardier than would be imagined from the land 

 of its origin, and is rarely injured by our winters. It is 

 a very rapid grower, and will readily ascend trees if it 



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