February 21, 190?. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
163 
Saxifraga Griesbachii. 
Prunus davidiana. 
The above alpine and crustaceous species of Saxifraga pro¬ 
duces its spathulate leaves in dense rosettes. A well-grown 
plant, when fully developed, attains the size of S. longifolia as 
far as the leaves are concerned, but that would mean a good 
deal in the case of this particular type of the genus. At the 
same time, and more particularly when the plant is grown in 
a dry situation and in full exposure, the leaves assume a beauti¬ 
ful gray colour, making this one of the more beautiful of the 
crustaceous species. 
The stems and the whole inflorescence are hirsute, bright 
red, and do not exceed 3 in. to 6 in. in height, under cultivation 
at least, so that the plant is well adapted for culture either on 
the steeper banks of the rock garden or in frames or in a 
properly-constructed alpine house, where the plants will be fully 
protected during the winter, which is their season of flower. 
The leaves on all the upper portions of the stems as well as 
the bracts are equally deeply coloured as the stems. The 
This Chinese tree is worth planting more extensively than 
is done at the present time, especially in places where very 
severe frost is not experienced, for, although perfectly hardy, 
the flowers are produced very early, and, being so delicate in 
texture, are apt to be injured by frost. As previously stated, 
it is a native of China, and it is now a little more than thirty 
years since it was first introduced to our gardens. In general 
appearance it more closely resembles the Almond and Peach 
than the Plum, the leaves being similar in shape to the two 
first-mentioned trees. If the weather proves mild in January 
the flowers begin to open about the third week in the month, 
and by early February (this year February 4 th) it is in full 
blossom. The flowers are pink and are usually borne in pairs 
—occasionally in threes—from the' nodes of the previous yeaFs 
w r ood, or twelve or more together in dense clusters from small 
spurs on the old wood. 
When grown naturally it assumes a graceful and shapely 
Saxifraga griesbachii. 
beauty of the plant is- as. obvious about Christmas or the new 
year as any other time, because the floral or coloured leaves 
are aggregated in a dense mass hi the centre of the rosette of 
leaves just prior to the development of the flower-stem, say 
about four or five weeks earlier. 
The flowers are produced in dense globular heads, and are 
so small individually that they would be of little account were 
it not for the highly-coloured condition of the leaves and bracts 
with which they are accompanied. These heads are nodding 
during the period of development, but they ultimately become 
perfectly erect. 
The chief distinction between this new species and S. media 
consists in the large rosettea of leaves, in flowering about 
Christmas, and in other small details. Our illustration was 
taken from plants at the Drill Hall .on the 10th inst., when they 
were exhibited by Messrs. R. Veitch & Sons, Exeter, and by 
Mr. G. Reuthe, Wensleydale, Hanworth Road, Feltham, Middle¬ 
sex. The figure represents the plants shown by the latter. 
The species was discovered about two years ago in Albania, a.nd 
is sure to become a favourite with lovers of hardy alpines suit¬ 
able for cultivation in the alpine garden, or otherwise in con¬ 
venient structures attached to the rock garden. 
tree, the branches being arranged in a semi-pendent manner. 
Some idea can be gathered of its rate of growth by a fine 
specimen 18 ft, high and 16 ft. through—in the widest part—- 
which may be seen near the Rhododendron Dell at Kew, having 
been raised from a seed received from Paris in February, 1894. 
This particular specimen is now worth seeing, as it is smothered 
with flowers, blossoms being borne from nearly eveiy bud of 
last yeaFs growth, and as many of last year’s branches average 
21? ft. in length and bear from forty to sixty flowmrs each, some 
idea can be gathered of what the tree looks like. As a rule, 
when this tree is seen at all in gardens, it is grafted, but 
grown in this manner it does not make nearly such a good 
specimen as when it is on its own roots. A variety known as 
P. d. alba, with pure white flowers, is cultivated, and may be 
seen in flower at Kew. It is veiy floriferous and makes an 
excellent companion for the type. In addition to being of 
value outdoors, P. davidiana is an excellent sul ject for forcum 
into flower early for the decoration of the conservatorv 
W RE 
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to ni'te that the address of THE GARDENING 
WORLD is now 37 ' 3S, Shoe Lane, London, E.C- 
