[January, 
TH^^ARDENER'S MONTHLY 
land and Ireland. An easier plant to cultivate 
can hardly be imagined.” And we notice it here 
to say that it is even a better plant for American 
gardens than for English ones. Last autumn the 
writer of this saw it in Ellis Park, in Chicago, 
more handsome than he ever saw it before, cov- 
ering trellises eight feet or more high with hun- 
dreds of its large, waxy, white flowers. It is of 
cruel tastes, however, the flower catching insects 
without any use whatever, so far as is at present 
known. 
Pentstemon humilis.^ — One of the prettiest of 
the dwarf Pentstemons of the Kocky Mountains, 
forms the subject of a handsome colored plate in 
the Florist and Pomologist for November. 
New Hardy Trees. — From various sources 
we make up the following, that will probably all 
prove hardy in our climate : 
Maakia amouriensis. — We had a specimen of 
this from the collection of Alfred Cope. The 
flowers are in close white bunches, and the 
leaves have much the appearance of a Cladras- 
tus tinctoria. It will be a good acquisition to 
our list of hardy trees. 
Corylopsis spicata. — We have before given 
some account of this beautiful Japan shrub, one 
which will probably prove hardy in our country. 
The Gardener’s Magazine has recently given a 
wood cut of it, and with the following descrip- 
tion : “ This interesting hardy Japanese shrub is 
regarded by hasty observers as a hazel or a near 
relative of the nut tribe, but as the seed is a hard 
capsule, those who watch it through its course 
learn that in one respect at least it is far removed 
from the hazels. It is, in fact, a member of the 
Liquidambar family, and its generic name of 
Corylopsis refers to the striking resemblance of 
its leaves to those of a hazel, not to its flowers or 
fruit. 
Corylopsis spicata is a free-growing shrub pos- 
sessing considerable beauty, and especially hand- 
some in the spring when its flowers appear, as 
they bear some resemblance to the elegant in- 
florescence of Garrya elliptica, being produced 
in drooping racemes in the greatest profusion. 
They appear before the leaves, and are of a 
pleasing greenish yellow color, pleasantly fra- 
grant, and attractive to the bees. The leaves 
which follow are large, subcordate, and of a full 
green color, like those of the hazel. Those who 
are now planting will do well to include this use- 
ful shrub in the list of desiderata for th^e shrub- 
bery.” 
Othera japonica. — The English papers say of 
this, which will perhaps prove hardy in at least 
our Middle States : “A new and beautiful ever- 
green shrub. One of the most distinguished 
Japanese travellers says this is perhaps the pret- 
tiest evergreen they have in Japan; it grows 
about twenty feet high, has dark green leaves and a 
profusion of bright red fruit; it is very effective 
and perfectly hardy.” 
A New Strain of Draca:nas. — Mr. Bause, who 
was the first to break up the old-fashioned Coleus 
into so many beautiful kinds, and without which 
our gardens would make now but a poor show, 
has done the same thing now for the Dracaena. • 
The new strain is said to be among the most 
beautiful of leaf plants, quite as striking as the 
Coleus. No doubt some of our enterprising flor- 
ists will soon offer them in this country. 
Pyracantha japonica. — We have not noticed 
before that there is a Pyracantha under this 
name in Europe. It appears there are a number 
of good Japan trees and shrubs in the Old World 
awaiting introduction here. The Garden says: 
“In town gardens, Pyracantha japonica is now 
one of the most attractive of all wall plants. In 
the Royal Horticultural and also in Kensington 
Gardens, this plant is now the admiration of all 
who see it. Crataegus Aronia, in Kensington 
Gardens, is also just now strikingly beautiful, as 
is likewise the crimson-fruited Cotoneaster frig- 
ida, which, as a town tree, ought to be more ex- 
tensively planted than it is. 
Styrax japonica. — This hardy deciduous shrub 
is of dwarf compact growth, with elegantly 
spreading branches, furnished with bright green 
elliptic leaves, and gives a profusion of white 
flowers, somewhat resembling snowflakes. It 
will be a very useful plant for early forcing along 
with Deutzias, Spiraeas, &c., and an exceedingly 
pretty and useful shrub for borders in the open 
air. It is a native of Japan. — W. Bulk 
Deutzia crenata candidissima plena.— A n 
exceedingly free-flowering variety, producing fine 
large, very double, pure white flowers. It is a 
very useful winter and spring-blooming plant, 
and looks extremely elegant when covered with 
its large bunches of pure white flowers. 
Weigela Lavallei. — The flowers of this at- 
tractive variety are of a rich purplish red color, 
with yellow centres, and are very freely produced 
in exceedingly long bunches. It is a distinct and 
handsome variety of robust growth, and is also 
an excellent plant for forcing. — W. Bull, 
