RARE SHRUBS IN THE OPEN AIR. 



355 



Pittosporum tcnuifolium. — We have a large plant 10 feet high by 5 feet 

 acixss, and of perfect shape, but I am not learned in the New Zealand 

 plants, and it is just conceivable that it may be one of the other Pit to - 

 sporums ; anyhow, I doubt if there is one of the family so large anywhere 

 else north of London. We give it shelter in severe winters (fig. 46). 



We have many different species of St. John's Wort, and all are worth 

 growing ; the colour of flower in all cases is much the same, and they 

 differ mainly in size of flower and habit of growth. Hypericum fragile 

 has minute foliage and is suited for a rock garden. H. Moserianum has 

 especially fine large flowers, and the variety tricolor has charming foliage. 

 We have also H. lysimachioides ; H. dubium, of erect growth ; H. pyrami- 

 datum ; H. patulum Henry i ; H. perfoliatum ; and H. Hooker ianum 

 (oblong if olium), and others which I cannot spare space to describe. 



Jamesia americana (Stephanomeria americana) is an erect deciduous 

 shrub with white flowers in May to June, and when grown in a mass, as 

 it may be seen at Kew, it is quite pleasing. 



Decaisnea Fargesi is an upright plant with pleasing, Robinia-like 

 foliage and delicate primrose-coloured flowers having a dark base in May 

 to June ; it is said to bear deep blue fruits, but I have never seen 

 them. 



Veronicas I shall not discuss, as none of them are truly hardy here, 

 even the old V. Traversii having all been killed in January 1895. 



Meliosma myriantha is, I believe, a beautiful plant, and rare even in 

 its own habitat (China and Japan), though we have one small plant just 

 alive. I have failed to grow it more than once, and cannot describe it of 

 my own knowledge. 



Purshia tridcntata is an upright sub -evergreen shrub or small tree 

 belonging to the Rosaceae ; it has very dark leaves and small yellow 

 flowers in April ; it is a native of North-West America. 



The shrubby Potentillas are not enough planted in England, con- 

 sidering that they are perfectly hardy, easily grown, and are bright and 

 continuous flowerers. Besides the type we have P. Friedrichseni, which 

 is a strong grower ; P. salesoviana, which has a distinct silvery leaf and 

 white flower; P. micrandra, which has a rich yellow flower; P. humilis, 

 which I take to be a dwarf form of P. fruticosa ; and lastly P. davurica. 

 The plants which we have under this name (bought from different 

 nurserymen abroad) are very squat and close- growing, with yellow 

 flowers ; there is, however, another P. davurica, which I have seen 

 exhibited by Messrs. Veitch, of Exeter (but which we do not possess), 

 of much looser growth and with white flowers. I cannot solve the problem 

 as to which is the true P. davurica. 



Cytisus leucanthus (C. schipkaensis), C. kewensis, and C. albus durus 

 are aU three ornamental white-flowered brooms of more or less dwarf 

 growth. C. scoparius fol. var. is a showy form of common broom with 

 yellow bark and foliage ; it looks very well as a standard. C. nigricans 

 and C. sessilifolius are distinguished by foreign botanists and known as 

 Lembotropis. They have certainly this difference from the ordinary 

 Cytisus : that they bear moving well, instead of very badly ; they flower 

 freely in late summer, and hold their blossoms, which are of a soft 

 yellow colour, well. 



