Trees and Shrubs for English Gardens Part 11

,, Spaethii.

Elaeagnus pungens aurea, one of the most beautiful variegated evergreens.

,, pungens variegata, white.

Euonymus j.a.ponicus albo-marginatus, very good for the south coast.

,, j.a.ponicus ovatus aureus, same as preceding, but yellow.

Ligustrum (Privet) ovalifolium foliis aureis, the best variegated shrub for hedges and for rough usage.

Neillia opulifolia lutea, yellow in spring only.

Philadelphus coronarius foliis aureis, yellow in the spring and early summer and very bright then, gradually gets green afterwards.

Ptelea trifoliata aurea, yellow.

Rhamnus Alaternus variegatus, white.

Rhus Cotinus atropurpureus, purple.

Symphoricarpus...o...b..culatus variegatus, yellow.

Sambucus nigra foliis aureis, yellow, retaining its colour well till autumn.

,, racemosa plumosa aurea, a beautiful cut-leaved Golden Elder.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _CORSICAN PINE TREE WALK, 35 YEARS OLD._]

DWARF SHRUBS AND CLIMBERS

Acanthopanax spinosum variegatum, pretty, white-variegated, dwarf, and slow-growing.

Arundinaria auricoma, the best yellow-variegated hardy Bamboo.

,, Fortunei, the best white-variegated hardy Bamboo.

Cornus alba Spaethii, probably the finest of all yellow-variegated shrubs, never "scorching" in the hottest summers. It is very handsome as pyramids, but by pruning a brighter coloured bark is obtained.

Euonymus radicans, the white-variegated form of this plant is useful as a carpet in shady positions where gra.s.s will not grow.

Ivy (Hedera Helix), numerous varieties, both shrubby and climbing--arborescens variegata, chrysophylla, discolor, maderensis variegata, sulphurea, canariensis argentea. E. radicans Silver gem is a larger leaved form, purer white and altogether better than many variegated Ivies.

Jasminum nudiflorum foliis aureis and officinale foliis aureis, variegated climbers with yellow leaves; the latter is the more ornamental, but is delicate in const.i.tution.

Kerria j.a.ponica foliis variegatis, white.

Lonicera j.a.ponica aureo-reticulata. The veins of this climber are beautifully "picked out" in gold.

Osmanthus Aquifolium ilicifolius variegatus, a holly-like, white-variegated shrub useful in the milder parts of the kingdom.

Osmanthus Aquifolium purpureus, the hardiest of the Osmanthus. There are two forms of this, one much darker than the other, and the darkest is the best.

Pieris j.a.ponica variegata, white.

Ribes alpinum pumilum aureum, golden in spring.

Rubus ulmifolius variegatus, veins of the later leaves golden.

Salix repens argentea, a prostrate silvery-leaved Willow, makes a pretty weeping shrub if trained up at first.

Santolina Chamaecyparissus, silvery white entirely.

Vitis heterophylla variegata, a pretty, blue-berried climber, but tender; the variegation is rosy white.

,, inconstans purpurea, a purplish form of the popular "Ampelopsis Veitchii."

,, vinifera purpurea, deep purple.

Vinca minor, white and yellow-marked forms.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _THE FAMOUS ARAUCARIA IMBRICATA AVENUE AT MURTHLY, N.B._]

CHAPTER XIV

TREES AND SHRUBS FOR SEA-COAST

In planting trees and shrubs near the sea, two important matters must be considered--(1) fierce gales; (2) salt spray. As a protection against storms much may be done by planting quick-growing things, such as Poplars and Willows, and in this sheltered area more permanent trees and shrubs may be put. This way of planting for shelter where bleak places are to be clothed with trees and shrubs is universally adopted in some form or other, sometimes in the shape of hedges or belts, and in the other cases the plants are all placed much thicker together than they are to permanently remain, thus forming a compact ma.s.s against which the wind makes little or no impression. In this last-named case continual thinning will be necessary as they grow up, for if left too long the plants become weak, and the advantage gained by the thicker planting is then completely lost. A beautiful seaside shrub, and the best, too, for forming shelter hedges of low or medium height is the Tamarisk, which retains its freshness throughout the season till the autumn, however much exposed to the sea.

It is difficult to make a list of trees and shrubs suitable for seaside planting around the British Isles, as the coast-line is so varied, and the action of the Gulf Stream has great influence on the vegetation of many parts of our western coasts. As no hard and fast line can be drawn, the first list contains those trees and shrubs that may be regarded as thoroughly hardy, unless otherwise specified, and the second list those that are available for planting in the Isle of Wight, in the south and west of England, and in some parts of Ireland.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _MAIDENHAIR TREE (Ginkgo biloba syn. Salisburia adiantifolia); FROGMORE._]

TREES

Acer platanoides (Norway Maple).

,, Pseudo-plata.n.u.s (Sycamore).

Alnus (Alder) of sorts. Will thrive only in damp places.

Ash, Mountain. (See next page.) Betula alba (Birch) and varieties.

Carpinus Betulus (Hornbeam).

Cerasus _see_ Prunus.

Crataegus (Thorn) of sorts.

Cupressus macrocarpa (Monterey Cypress). Of rapid growth.

f.a.gus sylvatica (Beech) and varieties.

Fraxinus excelsior (Common Ash). F. Ornus (Flowering Ash).

Ilex Aquifolium (Holly) and varieties.

Laburnum.

Pinus austriaca (Austrian Pine). One of the best Firs for bleak seaside places.

,, contorta (Twisted Pine). A small tree.

,, insignis (Gra.s.s-green Pine). More tender than the others.

,, Laricio (Corsican Pine). Equal to the Austrian Pine for seaside.

,, muricata (p.r.i.c.kly-coned Pine). A dwarf tree.

,, Pinaster (Cl.u.s.ter Pine). Delights in the neighbourhood of the sea.

,, montana (Mountain Pine). A shrub or small tree.

Populus alba (Abele or White Poplar). All the Poplars grow quickly.

,, deltoidea (Canadian Poplar).

,, fastigiata (Lombardy Poplar).

,, nigra (Black Poplar).

Prunus Avium, cerasifera (Cherry Plum).

,, Mahaleb.

,, Padus (Bird Cherry).

,, p.i.s.sardi (Purple-leaved Plum).

Pyrus Aria (White Beam tree).

,, prunifolia (Siberian Crab).

,, Sorbus (Service tree).

Quercus Cerris (Turkey Oak). Good loam suits this best.

,, Ilex (Evergreen or Holm Oak).

Salix (Willow) of sorts. Prefer a moist soil.

Ulmus (Elm) of sorts, particularly Wych Elm and an Elm known as Wheatley Elm.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _MAIDENHAIR TREE AT KEW._]

SHRUBS