October 3, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
69 
HARDY TREES AND 
SHRUBS. 
The Spiraeas. 
There are something like fifty species of Spiraea dis¬ 
tributed over the temperate and subfrigid zones of 
the northern hemisphere, with a few of them in the 
tropics upon high mountains. The bulk of them are 
therefore perfectly hardy in Britain, and a consider¬ 
able number of them are universally grown in gardens, 
shrubberies and pleasure grounds. The genus in¬ 
cludes both herbaceous and shrubby species, many of 
which of both types are of first-rate decorative value, 
For the present we shall concern ourselves only with 
the choicest of the shrubs, exclusive of the S. sorbi- 
folia type, which may be alluded to at another time. 
-They grow in almost any soil that is not too retentive 
or waterlogged, nor too barren and dry. Full 
exposure to light is, however, essential to their well¬ 
being and to the best development of bloom. A 
large number of the shrubby species may be propa¬ 
gated from suckers, which as a rule are abundantly 
produced. All of them may, however, be increased 
to any extent by cuttings of the half-ripened wood, 
inserted in sandy soil, and placed in a cold frame 
during the summer months, or later on in a pit where 
they may enjoy a little bottom heat by 
plunging them in a bed of Cocoa-nut fibre. 
Spir/ea Bumaldii.— The dwarf habit 
and profuse flowering nature of this 
comparatively new Japanese Spiraea 
should recommend it to every planter for 
edgings to large beds of shrubs, the 
margins of shrubberies, and for filling 
small beds on the grass. It would also 
prove useful for forcing. The stems 
vary from i ft. to 2^ft. in height, accord¬ 
ing to the age and strength of the plant, 
branching freely, and every shoot termi¬ 
nates in a corymbose cyme of deep red 
flowers, produced in succession from 
June to September. The leaves are 
lanceolate, serrate and of a rich dark 
green. There is a variegated variety 
(S. B. variegata) in which the leaves are 
variously blotched or banded with yellow-, 
and sometimes the whole of the leaves on 
the smaller shoots are yellow. Our 
illustration of a flowering shoot will give 
an idea of what the plant is like. 
Spir.'ea japonica.— There is consider¬ 
able affinity between this species and the 
above, and both come from the same 
country. We do not refer to the plant 
generally known in gardens as S. japonica, 
for the correct name of that is Astilbe 
japonica, and it belongs to another 
family. The true S. japonica is a shrub, 
and is nearly always named S. callosa 
by gardeners. The type has rosy-red 
flowers in terminal corymbs, successively 
produced from June to September, 
according to the condition of the plant. 
It varies from 4 ft. to 6 ft, high, but there are several 
dwarf varieties, one of the best ol which is S. j. alba, 
about 12 in. high, with white flowers. S. j. rubra 
has dark red flowers, and is one of the showiest of 
garden shrubs. S. j. splendens has peach-coloured 
flowers, but being very dwarf is useful for forcing 
purposes. S. j. superba, with deep rosy-red flowers, 
is also very choice. All are perfectly hardy and 
should be extensively planted. 
S. Douglasii,— No good collection of shrubs 
would be complete without this free flowering North¬ 
west American species. The oblong leaves are white 
with down beneath, which gives the plant a charac¬ 
teristic appearance when ruffled by the wind. 
The flowers are of a beautiful soft rose, and 
borne in narrow, thyrsoid panicles terminating the 
shoots. 
S. tomentosa.— There is considerable resemblance 
between this North American species and the last- 
named, but it is readily recognisable by its shorter, 
ovate leaves, and dwarf stature, being only 2 ft. 
to 3 ft. high. It is not quite so ornamental as S. 
Douglasii. 
S. salicifolia.— The flowers of this species are 
produced in terminal, sub-cylindrical cymes, from 
July to September, and are of a beautiful rosy-pink 
in the type, but there are many varieties. It is a 
native of continental Europe, but so freely does it 
grow in any. part of Britain that it has become 
naturalised in several places. Suckers are very freely 
produced around the main or mother stool Two of 
its finer varieties are S. s. grandiflora with very large 
flowers, and S. s. paniculataor S s. alba with branch¬ 
ing panicles of white flowers. 
S. Bella.— The leaves of this Himalayan species 
are ovate and notable for their small size. The 
flowers are of a beautiful rosy-red, and like those of 
S. japonica are produced in large flat corymbose 
cymes. The plant is highly ornamental in the 
shrubbery. 
S. bullata. —The stems of this species form a 
compact, branching bush, 12 in. high, and densely 
covered with small corymbs of deep red flowers about 
midsummer. The small dark green leaves are much 
blistered or wrinkled, and on that account the plant 
is often named S. crispifolia in gardens. 1 1 is a native 
of Japan and of recent introduction. 
S. media.— Within recent years this has become 
very popular for forcing purposes, and its cymes of 
pure white flowers, produced in profusion, renders it 
very useful for cut flowers or decorative purposes in 
winter. Being a native of Northern Asia it is per¬ 
fectly hardy, growing 2 ft. to 4 ft. high, and flowering 
in June and July. It is known in gardens as 
S. confusa, and S. oblongifolia is another synonym. 
S. prunifolia flore pleno. —The double-flowered 
form of the Prunus-leaved Spiraea seems to be the 
only one known in gardens. It is a native of China 
and Japan, and in this country is ready to burst into 
bloom on the approach of warm weather in spring. 
The flowers are pure white, and produced in quantity 
all along the previous year’s wood. 
S. Thunbergii.— The flowers of this Japanese 
species are pure white, fragrant, and developed upon 
the naked branches in early spring. The bush does 
not exceed 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, and is very distinct from 
any of the above-mentioned kinds on account of its 
long, linear-lanceolate narrow leaves. 
S. discolor ari^folia.— In the large, spray-like 
panicles of creamy-white flowers, this species may 
be compared to the plants of the S. sorbifolia type, 
but the leaves are very different, being wedge-shaped 
and lobed, resembling in some respects those of the 
common Hawthorn. The flowers are produced late 
in summer at a time when colour is much wanted in 
the shrubbery. There are several forms of the plant 
but that under notice is by far the best. 
-«*■- 
Preston and Fulwood Floral and Horticultural 
Society. —The fortieth monthly meeting of this 
Society will be held in the Legs of Man Hotel, 
Fishergate, Preston, this (Saturday) evening, when 
Mr. J. Hathaway, gardener to the Earl of Lathom, 
will read a paper on “ The Chrysanthemum.” 
Chair to be taken at 7 jo, 
VICTORIA PARK. 
The long-continued wet weather has told badly upon 
Pelargoniums used for bedding purposes, and at the 
same time brought out the superiority of the sub¬ 
tropical plants and carpet bedding for ornamental 
effect during wet weather. The storms of wind have 
however, damaged the foliage of Cannas badly where 
they had been fully exposed to the blast, showing 
that a certain amount of shelter from trees and 
shrubs is absolutely necessary for this style of gar¬ 
dening. 
Near the lake is a bold and mixed bed of Eucalyp¬ 
tus globulus, 3 ft. to 8 ft. high, Ficus elastica, 
Abutilon brasiliense, A. Thompsoni, Albizzia lophan- 
tha, and Erythrina corallina, with an edging of 
dwarfer plants of Fuchsias, variegated Maize, 
Amicia zygomeris, Aralia Sieboldi, Chamapeiace 
casabonae, Centaurea ragusina candidissima, and 
Cineraria maritima. Near by, on the opposite side of 
the path, is a circular bed of the large-leaved Solanun* 
robustrum, 1 edged with Iresine Lindeni and the 
white-leaved Centaurea. There is also a pretty and 
attractive bed of medium size filled with such elegant 
plants as Humea elegans, Grevillea robusta, 
Albizzia lophantha, and Abutilon Boule de Neige, 
with an edging like a little hedge of 
Amicia zygomeris, Fuchsias, Cineraria 
maritima, and Iresine Lindeni, while the 
perpendicular edge is planted with Coty¬ 
ledon secundum glaucum. The peculiar 
but agreeable odour of the Humeas is 
perceptible from a distance. 
A little farther on is a larger open space 
amongst the shrubbery on which nume¬ 
rous beds are laid out and" planted with 
sub-tropical subjects and carpet bedding 
plants. An oval bed in the centre is 
filled with plants, the bulk of which are 
of two different heights, the taller ones 
consisting of Ficus elastica (the younger 
leaves of which are of a deep bronzy red), 
Eucalyptus, Aralia Sieboldi, Dracaena 
rubra, and Oleander. The margin is 
occupied with dwarfer plants of subjects 
mostly already mentioned. At each end 
of this is a heart-shaped bed of Cannas, 
then one of mixed plants of moderate 
height. On either side of the Cannas are 
oval beds to the number of eight, filled 
with Fuchsia Golden Fleece, and edged 
with Coleus Verschaffelti, and Cotyledon. 
There are also two neat beds next the 
walk, in the shape of dumb-bells, occupied 
with carpet bedding. Each end of these 
beds contains a modified Maltese cross 
done with different varieties of Alternan- 
thera on a groundwork of Mentha Pule- 
gium gibraltarica, and a scroll and edging 
of Cotyledon, with numerous dot plants 
through it. Then there are four small 
circular beds filled with tuberous Begonias 
on a groundwork of Antennaria edged 
with Golden Feather, and a line of fine plants of 
Sempervivum tabulaeforme on the perpendicular 
edge completes the whole. Farther on upon the left 
are other beds of a similar nature to those already 
mentioned, and being in a sheltered place the Cannas 
appear to advantage. 
In an open space bordering upon one of the main 
walks of the park is a large scroll-work bed neatly 
laid out with carpet bedding plants. Along the 
centre are various figures done with Alternantheras 
on a groundwork of Mentha edged with Cotyledon 
and Golden Feather. Numerous plants of Cotyledon 
gibbiflora metallica, C. Pachyphytum, Sempervivum 
dorame, Aloe subulatum, Chamapeuce diacantha, 
and C. casabonae, Agave Americana, and A. a. varie¬ 
gata. At each end of this is a bluntly hexagonal 
bed with a raised, sharply hexagonal figure in the 
centre, planted with brightly coloured Alternantheras' 
and divided by lines of various Cotyledons. The 
blunt angles are occupied with T-shaped figures of 
Alternanthera on a groundwork of Mentha. Two 
small circular beds of Humea elegans, 4 ft. to 5 ft. 
high, on a groundwork of Chamapeuce diacantha, are 
also noticeable. 
Not far from this, on a triangular piece of ground, 
is a large circular bed filled with grotesque looking 
succulents of various kinds and large size. The 
semi-circular piece of ground, where the largest 
assemblage of beds i§ located, is occupied with 
