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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  14,  1899. 
FLOWERING  TREES  AND  SHRUBS 
(DECIDUOUS). 
In  the  notes  I  am  about  to  pen  I  shall  mark  with  an  asterisk 
those  shrubs  which  I  have  already  included  in  my  list  of  the  best 
dozen,  which  flower  during  the  spring  or  early  summer  months.  It  is 
an  easy  matter  to  write  down  the  names  of  twelve  good  kinds  of 
flowering  shrubs ;  but  when  one  begins  to  compare  their  good  points 
with  those  possessed  by  the  many  other  fine  species  and  varieties  in 
commerce  the  task  becomes  more  complicated,  as  numerous  matters 
have  to  be  taken  into  consideration.  For  instance,  when  compiling 
my  list  of  the  best  twelve  I  hesitated  about  omitting  Weigela  rosea 
in  favour  of  that  beautiful  yet  more  modern  shrub,  Genista  Andreana. 
One  great  object  which  I  kept  in  view  was  to  name  shrubs  which  were 
not  only  showy,  but  which  could  also  be  depended  upon  to  grow  under 
a  variety  of  conditions  and  take  care  of  themselves  in  an  ordinary 
shrubbery.  This  Genista  is  not,  I  think,  suited  for  such  a  purpose  ; 
a  good  mass  of  it  planted  in  front  of  a  shrubbery  is  effective,  and  if 
other  shrubs  are  kept  clear  of  it  thrives  well,  but  its  right  position  is 
on  an  open  sunny  bank  where  there  is  a  good  depth  of  soil ;  its  flowers 
are  then  seen  to  advantage — they  have  great  richness  of  colouring,  and 
with  judicious  pruning  the  plants  form  dense  bushes.  Abelia  rupestris 
is  a  very  pretty  shrub,  bearing  small  pink  flowers,  aud  should  be 
planted  in  a  warm  sunny  position  ;  height  from  3  to  5  feet. 
Several  of  the  Acacias  form  stately  trees,  which  are  alike  suitable 
for  planting  to  form  avenues  or  conspicuous  objects  in  a  shrubbery. 
They  grow  rather  slovenly,  but  in  time  form  splendid  trees  of 
picturesque  appearance.  Upright  rather  than  spreading  in  habit  of 
growth,  their  pendulous  racemes  of  flowers  and  elegant  leaves  contrast 
well  with  the  crooked  and  knotty  branches.  Two  good  forms  to  grow 
are  A.  Robina  and  A.  Bessoniana.  A.  rosea  is  a  very  tioriferous 
variety,  so  much  so  that  the  branches  on  young  trees  often  break 
down  with  the  weight  of  flowers  if  no  support  is  given.  It  only 
attains  a  height  of  from  12  to  15  feet.  A.  angustifolia  is  a  pretty 
yellow  flowering  shrub,  hardy  enough  for  planting  in  a  warm  position 
in  the  South  of  England. 
Althaea  frutex  (Hibiscus  syriacus)  and  its  varieties  are  exceed¬ 
ingly  handsome  shrubs,  which  flower  during  July  and  August,  yet 
how  seldom  one  meets  with  them,  a  regrettable  fact  which  can  only  be 
accounted  lor  by  the  supposition  that  they  are  not  well  known.  Some 
of  the  best  varieties  are  albo-luteolus  plenus,  Amaranthus  albo- 
plenus,  bicolor  bybridus,  carneo-plenus,  elegantissimus,  Duchesse  de 
Brabant,  roseus  plenus,  and  Violet  Clair.  The  Althaeas  succeed  well 
in  any  well  drained  soil,  but  prefer  a  light  rich  one. 
The  many  species  and  varieties  of  Amygdalus  may,  I  think,  be 
rightly  termed  “  queens  ”  among  spring  flowering  trees  and  shrubs. 
The  stronger  growing  ones  form  splendid  specimen  trees  for  dotting 
among  extensive  shrubberies,  as  their  charms  are  shown  up  to 
advantage  when  they  spring  from  a  groundwork  of  green  or  coloured 
foliage.  The  dwarfer  growing  kinds  should  be  placed  in  the  foreground 
of  shrubberies,  and  be  allowed  room  to  develop  into  shapely  bushes. 
A.  communis,  the  well  known  common  Almond,' is  really  one  of 
the  most  showy  trees  which  blossom  in  British  gardens.  Large 
specimens  in  March,  when  their  shoots  are  wreathed  with  pale  rose- 
coloured  flowers,  are  for  the  time  being  the  glory  of  a  few  gardens  ; 
they  ought  to  be  of  many.  Trees  grow  freely  in  almost  any  well- 
drained  soil,  damp  soil  they  detest.  A.  c.  amara  (Bitter  Almomi) 
flowers  somewhat  later  than  the  species,  the  rose  centre  of  the  petals 
gradually  shades  to  white  at  the  edges.  A.  c.  dulcis  (Sweet)  bears 
smaller  flowers  than  either  of  the  above,  but  it  is  well  worth  growing. 
Its  blossoms  expand  early  in  March,  and  are  of  an  attractive  red  colour. 
A.  c.  flore-pleno  is  extremely  showy,  the  flowers  being  large  and  full, 
and  of  a  very  pretty  flesh  colour.  A.  c.  macrocarpa  bears  flowers 
2  inches  in  diameter,  the  colour  being  whitish  rose.  All  the  above 
grow  from  20  to  30  feet  in  height.  Three  excellent  dwarf  growing 
kinds  are  °A.  incana,  red  ;  A.  nana,  rose,  very  free  flowering,  and 
excellent  in  every  way;  and  A.  orientalis,  rose,  branches  clothed  with 
a  silver  wool-like  covering. 
Among  the  Berberises  only  two  deciduous  varieties  are  grown 
in  gardens.  These  are  “Thunbergi  and  vulgaris,  the  former  bears 
flowers  of  a  pale,  yet  attractive  colour,  and  during  autumn  the  foliage 
is  beautifully  coloured.  The  latter  is  well  known,  and  although  the 
flowers  are  not  particularly  attractive  the  shrub  is  worth  growing  in 
all  large  gardens,  on  account  of  the  coloured  berries  which  in  August 
hang  from  the  gracefully  arching  branches. 
The  crimson  and  yellow  Broom  (Cytisus  scoparius)  is  by  no  means 
to  be  despised  as  a  garden  shrub,  for  it  makes  a  brilliant  show  when 
planted  in  masses  on  sunny  banks,  and  if  regularly  pruned  may  be 
kept  dwarf  and  bushy.  C.  canariensis  is  a  species  which  branches 
naturally  and  is  thoroughly  worthy  of  the  attention  of  planters.  One 
does  not  often  meet  with  C.  albus,  but  it  is  quite  as  easily  grown  as 
the  more  common  varieties. 
That  grand  showy  old  shrub  c'Cydonia  japonica,  is  still  one  of  the 
most  popular  shrubs  to  be  seen  in  British  gardens ;  its  brilliant  scarlet 
flowers  begin  to  open  in  March,  making  a  fine  display  before  the  leaves 
unfold,  and  throughout  the  summer  a  few  flowers  are  here  and  there 
produced.  It  makes  a  fine  climber  for  covering  a  wall,  house  or  fence; 
and  is  equally  suitable  for  planting  singly  on  a  lawn,  where  it  will  form 
a  large  spreading  bush  even  in  bleak  Lincolnshire.  I  have  seen  plenty 
in  exposed  positions  come  through  severe  winters  unscathed.  In  regard 
to  its  management  a  golden  rule  is  “  spare  the  knife”  and  plant  in  a 
sunny  position,  you  will  then  unfailingly  get  plenty  of  blossoms 
annually.  There  are  white  and  rose  coloured  as  well  as  double  forms. 
C.  Maulei  greatly  resembles  C.  japonica,  but  the  flowers  are  rather 
deeper  in  colour,  and  the  habit  of  the  plant  more  compact.  It  also 
produces  yellow  fruit  freely,  and  is  a  most  desirable  shrub. 
The  Siberian  Crab  (Pyrus  prunifolia)  makes  an  excellent  standard 
tree,  the  pale  rose  or  white  flowers,  produced  during  April  or  May, 
being  followed  by  small  attractive-looking,  but  not  palatable,  fruits. 
This  species  is  well  known  and  frequently  planted,  but  I  wish  to  call 
special  attention  to  P.  floribunda,  which  seems  10  be  little  known, 
yet  it  is  far  more  showy  than  the  Siberian  Crab.  As  its  name  implies, 
it  flowers  with  wonderful  freedom,  the  rich  rosy  red  blossom  being 
borne  on  light  slender  shoots,  and  are  succeeded  by  attractive  looking 
fruits  about  the  size  of  Cherries.  It  is  a  fine  shrub  for  growing  as  a 
half-standard,  for  it  never  reaches  a  great  height  There  is  a  good 
specimen  in  the  grounds  of  Warwick  Castle,  which  is  annually 
admired  by  thousands  of  visitors. 
Catalpa  syringae folia  and  Cercis  siliquastrum  rubrum  form  a  pair  of 
extremely  showy  trees  which  grow  to  large  dimensions.  The  flowers 
of  the  former  are  borne  in  panicles  above  the  leaves,  like  the  Horse 
Chestnut,  but  are  much  more  showy.  The  Cercis  is,  unfortunately, 
only  hardy  enough  for  planting  in  the  Smth  of  England.  Chimo- 
nanthus  fragrans  and  C.  grandiflora  are  pretty  yellow  flowering  shrubs 
or  wall  plants,  which  often  display  their  charms  in  the  depth  of 
winter.  Calycanthus  floridus  (Allspice)  is  a  spreading  shrub,  attaining 
a  height  of  6  feet,  and  worth  growing  on  account  of  the  delicious 
perfume  the  shrub  emits.  *  Daphne  mezereum  is  a  gem  among 
perfectly  hardy  shrubs,  as  its  deliciously  scented  rose  coloured  flowers 
open  very  early  in  spring.  Its  habit  is  also  good,  and  it  may  be 
readily  increased  by  cuttings  or  by  seed.  The  white  form  is  also 
worth  growing.  Either  should  be  planted  in  a  sunny  position  near 
the  front  of  a  shrubbery,  or  in  front  of  a  wall  or  buildiDg. 
Three  excellent  Deutzias,  well-known  white  flowering  shrubs,  are 
crenata  fl.-pl.,  candidissima  fl.-pl.,  and  gracilis;  the  two  former  attain 
a  height  of  8  or  9  feet,  the  latter  of  5  feet.  The  only  pruning 
necessary  is  to  thin  out  some  of  the  older  branches  occasionally. 
Dimorphanthus  maudscuricus  is  a  handsome  erect  growing  shrub 
with  large  bipinnate  leaves,  the  shoots  being  surmounted  by  small 
whitish  flowers.  It  requires  a  wrarm  sunny  position.  ^Forsythia 
viridissima  bears  yellow  flowers  in  abundance  during  March.  It 
forms  a  pretty  shrub  if  kept  within  bounds  by  a  little  pruning,  and  is 
also  suitable  for  training  against  walls  or  fences.  F.  suspensa  is 
pretty  and  elegant,  but  does  not  flower  so  freely  as  its  companion. 
The  Guelder  Rose  (Viburnum  opulus),  though  common,  must  on 
no  account  be  despised,  as  it  grows  freely  in  almost  any  soil,  and 
when  large  balls  of  white  depend  from  its  upright  shoots  it  pro¬ 
duces  a  novel  and  imposing  sight.  To  see  it  in  perfection  it  should 
be  planted  on  a  raised  mound.  Hydrangea  paniculata  grandiflora 
is  a  splendid  shrub  for  planting  near  the  edges  of  walks  or  in 
mixed  borders.  It  is  perfectly  hardy,  and  the  immense  panicles  of 
white  flowers  are  great  features  in  their  season.  PI.  hortensis,  the 
older  pink  kind,  ought  to  be  more  generally  grown  in  the  open  air, 
as  its  characteristic  flowers  are  extremely  imposing,  and  if  given  a 
sunny  position  and  plenty  of  manure  fine  bold  leaves  as  well  as 
flowers  are  produced. 
All  garden  lovers  know  the  yellow  and  purple  Laburnums.  How 
beautiful  they  are  even  when  compared  with  the  many  floral  gems 
of  May.  It  is  worth  noting  that  there  are  several  varieties  of 
Laburnum,  some  of  which  bear  much  longer  racemes  of  flowers  than 
the  species.  Watered  is  conspicuous  in  this  respect.  The  flowers 
are  also  of  a  deep  rich  colour.  °Kerria  japonica  is  one  of  the  easiest 
growing  yet  brightest  shrubs  which  find  a  home  in  our  gardens.  Its 
orange  yellow  flowers  are  borne  in  great  profusion  on  shoots  of  the 
previous  season’s  growth.  I  have  sometimes  heard  this  Kerria  called 
the  Persian  Rose,  and  the  blooms  are  not  unlike  some  types  of  double 
Roses.  A  large  spreading  plant  in  an  isolated  position  on  a  lawn  is  a 
brilliant  object  when  in  flower.  They  are  also  excellent  for  covering 
walls  and  fences,  the  only  pruning  necessary  being  to  cut  away  worn- 
out  branches  occasionally,  so  as  to  prevent  crowding.  There  is  a 
variegated  form  which  is  quite  worth  growing. 
There  are  many  fine  species  and  varieties  of  Syringas  (Lilacs). 
Chinensis  flowers  very  freely  on  slender  shoots,  and  does  not  grow 
