Climbing Evonymus — There is some confusion concerning 
the different varieties of the climbing Evonymus, and the 
average plant catalogue does not help. They are not distinct 
species nor even distinct varieties, but rather different vegetative 
forms of the same thing! 
The little vine with long narrow leaves known as Evonymus 
radicans has been a familiar subject for many years, being used 
largely to cover stone foundations and stone or brick walls. 
This came from Japan, and is sometimes considered a variety 
of the bush Evonymus japonicus. But in suitable soil this vine 
will often make strong growth, climbing ten or fifteen feet high 
and the foliage on the upper part of the plant gradually takes on 
The parent, E. radicans 
above, “ Carrierei ” top 
center, with “variegata" 
below 
The “vegetus" form is decid- 
edly popular as a substitute 
for the English Ivy 
THE FOUR FORMS OF THE JAPANESE EVONYMUS 
a different form. The leaves instead of being long and narrow 
become almost round and a deeper green in color, and in the fall 
the vine has produced a large number of orange colored fruits, 
resembling those of the common Bittersweet. What has 
happened is simply that as the vine has aged it has taken on the 
fruiting form, and it is this form which is sold under the name of 
Evonymus vegetus, or the Evergreen Bittersweet. The 
common English Ivy behaves in just the same way, taking 
on a different appearance when it reaches fruiting age, and in the 
greenhouse the Climbing Fig (Ficus repens) is another familiar 
case. If the seeds of these adult forms be planted, the resulting 
seedlings would be the ordinary climbing forms. If, however, 
cuttings be taken from the matured and fruiting form, the 
plants will be of course the matured type — and so we get 
Evonymus vegetus. There is another form offered by 
nurserymen as Evonymus Carrierei. It has leaves about an 
inch and a half long, and somewhat shiny. 
There is also a variegated form known as Evonymus varie- 
gatus and other varieties — reticulata for instance which has 
leaves marked with white along the veins. Not long ago on a 
single large plant on the Bayard Thayer estate in Lancas- 
ter* Mass., could be seen specimens of all four “varieties.” 
Of^course “radicans” never fruits. “Carrierei” may be called 
semi-fruiting. For many purposes Evonymus radicans vegetus 
is the most desirable form, being handsome both in leaf and 
when fruiting, and certainly making the best substitute for 
the English Ivy which can be grown in the North. 
Double Gypsophila — Of the comparatively recent intro- 
ductions in the floral field, Double-flowering Baby’s-breath 
(Gypsophila paniculata fl. pi.) deserves better acquaintance as 
a decided improvement on the single form. Its airy grace 
commends it as a “filler” in bouquets where flowers of a com- 
pact habit are used, and it is exquisite in combination with the 
red berries of the Morrow’s Bush-honeysuckle. It has tinv, 
white, rosette-like blossoms which look like miniature editions 
of the double flower of the Bridal Wreath Spiraea (S. pruni- 
folia) and they may be dried for a winter bouquet. The plant 
grows from two to three feet high and branches out freely. 
The stalks should be cut down late in the fall and new shoots 
will come up from the old root in the spring. 
Acacias — are getting to be really popular as pot plants for the 
cool house in the East — on the Pacific slope of course a number 
are well known as garden material. One of the earliest to bloom 
is A. Baileyana, coming into flower in December in the green- 
house, and this is also very common in California. A. pubes- 
cens is the more popular one among Eastern florists, and has 
been accepted in the West, after being introduced from the East. 
Both these have ball-like flower clusters. Following in season is 
A. longifolia, with elongated flower clusters. This is represented 
by two forms in two shades of yellow. A European garden 
hybrid (A. Nabonnandi) with ball-like clusters is the earliest 
of all to bloom. There are more than 400 species recorded and 
the Standard Encyclopedia describes 67, but those named above 
are among the most “practical. 
Townsendia — is a genus of low-growing herbaceous plants, 
having daisy-like flow- 
ers, native to the 
Rocky Mountains 
which would seem to 
be worthy of a better 
acquaintance among 
gardeners. Of course 
we have a large quan- 
tity of these aster- or 
daisy -flowered plants 
to choose from but 
here is one that should 
commend itself to 
those whose soil is 
poor, dry, sandy. The 
flowers are bright blue 
to violet all summer in 
the one illustrated 
herewith and the in- 
dividual ray is a half 
inch long; and the 
whole plant is de- 
scribed as 9 to' 1 8 inches 
high, biennial or peren- 
nial. It is a native from 
Nebraska to Colorado 
and New Mexico. 
TOWNSENDIA GRANDIFLORA 
Flowers blue to violet; 18 inches 
high. Suitable for dry, sandy soils 
21 
