The Garden Magazine, September, 1923 
37 
was named R. Fortunei and this 
fine plant has been of great 
value to English Rhododendron 
breeders. The next discoveries 
were made by Pere David in 
western Szechuan followed by 
those of Pere Delavay in Yunnan and Augustine Henry in Hupeh. In 
more recent times a couple of hundred other species have been discovered 
in western China and that region established as the headquarters of the 
genus. 
The rank and file among Chinese Rhododendrons are as hardy as 
the well-known R. ponticum, but unfortunately none are hardy in the 
colder parts of this country. In England, on the other hand, these 
Chinese Rhododendrons have proved most adaptable and are among 
the most useful and acceptable gifts China has given to gardens. Differ¬ 
ent species of Rhododendron grow on the mountains in every one of 
the eighteen provinces of China, but their greatest concentration is found 
in the extreme west. In height they vary from prostrate or tufted 
plants a few inches high to forest trees 60 feet and more tall with trunks 
from 4 to 6 feet in girth, but the majority are wide-spreading bushes 
from 6 to 15 feet tall. On alpine moors they grow gregariously in the 
same manner as does the Heather in Europe and Phyllodoce and various 
species of Vaccinium in this country. The flowers vary in size from 
tiny saucers not half an inch in diameter to huge bells from four to six 
inches across the mouths. The colors are of every known hue and 
include some quite good yellows and the different species are to be 
found in bloom from the New Year until well into August. The dis¬ 
tribution of nearly all the species is quite local, and many occupy def¬ 
inite altitudinal zones on the mountains and this gives rise to belts of 
color. To traverse the mountains of western China in the Rhodo¬ 
dendron season is to enjoy a feast of beauty not excelled the world over. 
On the mountains not far from Peking and north eastward into Korea 
THE GOLDEN ROSE OF CHINA 
‘Most exquisite of all the yellow- 
flowered hardy Roses” is Rosa Hu- 
gonis recently brought into cultiva- 
ion from the open mountain slopes 
of north-central China 
and beyond grows the lovely R. 
dauricum var. mucronulatum, a 
deciduous plant whose wealth 
of rose-pink to rose-purple blos¬ 
soms open the first warm days 
of spring. For the gardens of 
New England there is a no more satisfactory spring-flowering shrub. 
Azaleas mentioned earlier demand a few words. From the coast to 
the extreme west, from sea-level to about 5,000 feet on the mountain 
slopes, Rhododendron Sitnsii, parent of the modern “Belgian” or “In¬ 
dian” Azaleas, luxuriates. This red-flowered Azalea is a gregarious’ 
plant seldom exceeding 8 feet in height and in season its mass of blos¬ 
soms dazzle the eyes with their intensity of red. The fragrant, yellow- 
flowered R. molle is also abundant in the milder parts and well deserves 
a word of praise. Unfortunately this plant is not quite hardy in the 
climate of New England. 
A feature of the moist rich woodlands of China are different species 
of Magnolia, several of which open their large flowers before the leaves 
unfold. Foremost among these must be placed the Yulan, well-known 
wherever hardy trees are cultivated in the temperate regions of both 
hemispheres. This handsome flowering tree, which grows naturally 
on the mountains of central China, for more than a thousand years 
has been a favorite tree in Chinese gardens. It was introduced into 
England in 1789, being the first Asiatic species to reach Europe. In a 
wild state both white and pink-flowered forms are known, but the latter 
was introduced into gardens only some twenty years ago. 
Parents of Our Garden Roses 
T HE Rose family is abundantly represented in China, and its tiees 
and shrubs are among the most beautiful flowering plants of the 
woodlands, mountain slopes and valleys. In the woods the pink and 
white blossoms of various Cherries are a conspicuous feature of early 
