38 
The Garden Magazine, September, 1923 
HEDGE OF PINK CHEROKEE ROSES 
Luxuriant throughout the South and known in this country as the Cherokee, this Rose (Rose laevigata) is abundant everywhere at low altitudes in central China 
spring as in the open are those of Primus tomentosa. Crabapples, too, 
in variety there are and none more beautiful than Malus theifera, with 
rigid branches densely studded with white to pink flowers. This is a 
new-comer and very distinct in appearance with its sparse, spreading 
branches. It owes its name to the fact that its leaves are used as a 
substitute for tea. But more than a century ago, in 1780 to be exact, 
came the favorite Malus spedabilis, first of the Crabapples of the 
Orient to reach Western gardens. With its vase-shape crown, delicate 
pink, simple to semi-double flowers, this handsome plant is one of 
gardens’ greatest treasures. Long cultivated by the Chinese, its origin 
remains unknown to this day. 
Conspicuous in the valleys and open mountain slopes everywhere 
in China are Roses, and from that land have come the principal parents 
of the races of Roses we cultivate to-day and also some of our most 
prized Rose species. Very common in southwest China is Rose odorata 
var. gigantea, prototype of the Tea Rose, with white and pink fragrant 
blossoms. In central China, though not common, is found the red- 
flowered R. cbinensis var. spontanea, parent of the China Monthly Rose. 
In the same region and partial to alluvial river-flats R. multiflora var. 
cathayensis, parent of “Crimson Rambler” and the Polvantha Roses, is 
abundant. The wilding has pink flowers and conspicuous yellow sta¬ 
mens and is more lovely than many of its offspring cultivated under 
fancy names. 
These and other Roses have been cultivated for we know not how 
many centuries by the Chinese, in whose gardens forms in variety have 
originated, and it was these that toward the end of the 18th century and 
early in the 19th were introduced into Europe, some by way of India 
and some by that of Mauritius whither they had been carried by early 
voyagers. These products of Chinese gardens received names, became 
the accepted types of species, and by crossing and intercrossing with the 
Roses long grown in European gardens have given us the modern Rose 
in all its multifarious forms. The discovery of the wild forms of these 
Chinese Garden Roses is of recent date and all the facts concerning 
them are far from being fully known. 
Abundant everywhere at low altitudes in central China is R. laevigata 
with its large pure white flowers. This Rose was first named by Mi- 
chaux in 1803 from plants growing wild in this country where it is 
familiarly known as the Cherokee Rose. When and by what means it 
first reached America is one of the unsolved problems of plant introduc¬ 
tion. In the heart of China in extraordinary plenty grows the wild 
Banksian Rose with fragrant single white flowers arranged in umbels. 
This Rose, by clinging and scrambling, covers trees from forty to fifty 
feet tall and in the early summer its festoons of blossoms are among the 
loveliest pictures of the countryside. With it grow several species with 
musk-scented flowers of which none is finer than R. Helenae. To travel 
through the mountains of China when the Roses are in bloom and espe¬ 
cially in the cool of the morning or evening when the air is laden with 
the fragrance from their myriad flowers is to taste of paradise. On the 
highlands of the extreme west grows R. Moyesii than which no species 
has flowers of richer shades of red or more brilliantly colored hips in 
autumn. The open mountain slopes of north central China and west¬ 
ward is the home of R. Hugonis, most exquisite of all the yellow flowered 
hardy Roses. There are many other species—dozens of them—but 1 
cannot attempt to mention all. Everywhere in China Rose species 
are to be found and as individuals no shrubs are more plentiful, more 
floriferous, or more lovely. 
Sweet-scented Shrubs—-Primroses at the Edge of 
Perpetual Snows 
I N THE gardens of the colder parts of eastern North America Lilacs 
hold an undisputed place, for they are satisfactory shrubs and de¬ 
servedly popular. Most of the familiar sorts grown are derived from 
Syringa vulgaris considered to be native of the mountains of Bulgaria. 
In China grow many other species and their beauty is greater than 
that of the prototype of the common Lilac; moreover, their season of 
blossoming extends over a period of six weeks. Many of them are 
quite recent introductions and have scarcely been employed by the 
