THE USE OF VARIEGATED TREES AND SHRUBS
The best use of trees and shrubs with coloured or variegated foliage is
not very easy to determine, though it may be possible to give a few
useful suggestions. The usual way of planting them here and there among
mixed masses of evergreen and deciduous growths is perhaps the worst way
of all. All good planting must be done with much thought and care, and
these plants of coloured foliage, that are necessarily more conspicuous
than others, want the most careful placing of any.
One excellent use of evergreen trees and shrubs with golden colouring,
such as the Gold Hollies, Cypresses, Yews, and Privets is to make them
into a cheerful bit of outdoor winter garden. The Gold-leaved Privet is
a delightful thing in early winter, and though Wild Privet, untouched by
the knife, is a deciduous shrub, the clipped Privets of our gardens
usually hold their leaves throughout the winter. With these the
variegated Japan Honeysuckle might be freely used, much of its yellow
veining turning to a bright red in winter. _Cassinia fulvida_ is another
good winter shrub with its tiny gold-backed leaves. The pretty bushes of
this neat New Zealander are apt to grow somewhat straggling, but the
crowded little branches are the very thing that is wanted through the
winter as cut greenery to go with winter flowers, whether hardy or from
under glass. If these are cut a foot long the bush is kept in shape, and
a valuable supply of stuff for house decoration is provided.
A half or even quarter acre of well-arranged planting of these
gold-variegated shrubs has a surprisingly cheery effect in winter,
making a kind of sunlight of its own when skies are grey, and a
comfortable shelter when winds are keen.
In summer, too, it will be beautiful if the spaces between the shrubs
are cleverly planted, for preference, with plants of white or
pale-yellow flowers, such as White Foxglove, _Oenothera lamarckiana_,
white and pale-yellow _Hibiscus ficifolius_, _Liliums auratum_,
_giganteum_, _speciosum_, and _longifolium_; White Everlasting Pea
trained loosely through any near branches; _Nicotiana affinis_ and _N.
sylvestris_; and close to the path hardy Ferns of pale-green frondage,
such as the Lady Fern; with clumps of plants of golden foliage like the
Gold Valerian and Gold Nettle. A shrub of variegated foliage, planted
without special attention, and coming suddenly in a grouping of others
of an average green colour is made unduly conspicuous. It should be led
up to by neighbours whose colouring gradually assimilates with its own.
The sudden effect of colouring is all very well in the nurseryman's show
borders, where the object is to attract attention to showy individuals,
but in our gardens we want the effect of well-arranged pictures
rather than that of shop windows.
[Illustration: _TAURIAN TAMARISK (Tamarix tetrandra), IN FLOWER._]
A variegated plant to be of real value in the garden must have clear,
bright, and abundant red and yellow or white markings, not dotted or
merely margined with colour. So many worthless shrubs with poor
variegation have been named and offered for sale that it is unwise to
buy them from a catalogue. We may repeat the advice already given, which
is to see them first.
Trees and shrubs with coloured foliage are of several kinds. Most common
of all are those which have leaves blotched or edged with golden or
creamy yellow and white, such as the variegated Hollies and Elaeagnuses.
Then there are those which are only coloured at a certain season, like
_Neillia opulifolia aurea_. This has leaves of a beautiful self yellow
colour when they unfold in spring, but become green as the summer
advances; or the variegated Plane (_Platanus acerifolia Suttneri_),
which is only variegated in late summer and autumn.
Finally, there are those, like the Purple Hazel or Purple Beech, which
have leaves of one colour and remain almost of the same shade whilst
they are on the tree.
On the whole the plants that retain their colour till late summer and
autumn, or acquire it then, are most valuable, because very few trees
and shrubs are then in flower.
Variegated trees and shrubs must not be planted too plentifully, and
studiously avoid all spotty effects. Many a garden would be improved by
bringing the variegated shrubs it contains together so as to produce a
few broad masses of colour. Some of these shrubs, like Spath's Cornel,
or the Golden Elder, may, in large gardens especially, be planted alone
in large beds or groups. The large trees, like the Purple Beech, can
stand by themselves.
The following list contains about one hundred of the finest of
variegated trees and shrubs:--
TREES
Acer Negundo variegatum, creamy white.
,, Negundo aureum, golden entirely.
,, platanoides Schwedleri, soft red in spring.
,, Pseudo-platanus flavo-marginatum, the "Corstorphine" Sycamore, one
of the largest of variegated trees.
Alnus glutinosa aurea, wholly yellow.
Betula alba purpurea, wholly purple.
Castanea sativa aureo-marginata, the variegated Sweet Chestnut, perhaps
the best of all large trees, with parti-coloured leaves. The leaves
burn on some soils.
Catalpa bignonioides aurea, wholly golden, and most effective in summer
and autumn.
Fagus sylvatica purpurea. Of the Purple Beeches there are now numerous
forms, such as atropurpurea, cuprea, purpurea, pendula
(weeping), and "Swat Magret" (the darkest of all). Pyramidalis
purpurea is very beautiful.
,, sylvatica variegata, white.
,, sylvatica tricolor, various shades of red and purple; beautifully
coloured, but not vigorous.
,, sylvatica var. Zlatia, entirely pale golden green in spring, but
for a short time only.
,, sylvatica, Paul's gold-margined, is a pretty variegated tree.
Fraxinus americana aucubaefolia, richly mottled with yellow.
Ilex Aquifolium. The variegated Hollies, both silver and golden, are now
very numerous; among the best are argentea marginata, argentea pendula
(Perry's Silver Weeping), Golden Queen, Silver Queen, Handsworth
Silver, Golden King, flavescens, latifolia aureo-marginata,
Watereriana, aureo-medio picta, aureo-pendula.
Laburnum vulgare foliis aureis, all yellow.
Platanus acerifolia Suttneri, very pure white with scarcely any green on
late growth.
Populus deltoidea (canadensis) aurea, yellow.
Prunus cerasifera atropurpurea (P. Pissardi), lovely claret red when
young, becoming dull purple in summer.
Pyrus Malus neidwetzkyanus. In this Apple not only the leaves, but the
wood and fruit are purplish red.
,, Aria chrysophylla, yellow.
Quercus Cerris variegata, the white variegated Turkey Oak.
,, pedunculata Concordia, a lovely clear yellow, and seldom burns.
,, pedunculata purpurea, wholly red purple.
,, rubra, crimson.
Robinia Pseudacacia aurea, yellow.
Ulmus campestris, "Louis Van Houtte," the best Golden Elm.
,, campestris viminalis variegata, a charming white-variegated,
small-leaved Elm.
,, montana fastigiata aurea (U. Wredei aurea) should not be omitted.
A beautiful Elm for small gardens.
[Illustration: _ASHES_]
CONIFERS
Abies concolor violacea, glaucous blue.
Cedrus atlantica glauca, glaucous blue.
Cupressus lawsoniana; numerous varieties, of which gracilis pendula
aurea, lutea (very hardy), Silver Queen, and albo-variegata
may be mentioned.
,, nootkatensis lutea, yellow-tipped twigs.
,, obtusa aurea (Thujopsis borealis aurea), yellow.
,, obtusa nana aurea, dwarf yellow.
,, pisifera plumosa aurea, yellow.
,, macrocarpa lutea, the best yellow Conifer in mild districts.
Juniperus chinensis aurea, gold-tipped.
Picea orientalis argenteo-spica, young shoots pale yellow.
,, pungens glauca, the best "blue" Conifer.
Pinus sylvestris aurea, golden in winter, green in spring and summer.
Retinospora (_see_ Cupressus).
Taxus baccata aurea, "Golden Yew," _elegantissima_ and Golden
Irish. I was very pleased with the beautiful colouring of
natural golden hybrid forms in Messrs. Fisher, Son, & Sibray's
nursery at Handsworth. T. adpressa, Barroni, a. variegata,
small-growing, leaves edged with silver, and suffused with
yellow as winter approaches.
,, baccata fastigiata aurea, "Golden Irish Yew."
,, baccata semper-aurea, golden more or less throughout the winter.
,, Dovastoni aureo-variegata.
Thujopsis (_see_ Cupressus, p. 97).
Thuya (Biota) orientalis aurea, yellow in summer.
[Illustration: _THE LOMBARDY POPLAR._]
SHRUBS OR SMALL TREES
Acer palmatum atropurpureum, purple. There are many forms of this
Japanese Maple--cut-leaved, purple, and golden--but this is the
hardiest.
Aralia chinensis albo-variegata. This is one of the most promising new
variegated shrubs. It is sold as Dimorphanthus mandschuricus var.
variegatus.
Atriplex Halimus, silvery grey entirely.
Aucuba japonica, many forms, yellow or creamy white.
Berberis vulgaris foliis purpureis, one of the best purple shrubs.
Buxus sempervirens aurea, "Golden Box."
Corylus maxima atropurpurea, a dark-purple, very effective variety of
the Cob-nut.
Cornus Mas aurea elegantissima, yellow (of slow growth and not very
hardy).
,, Mas variegata, white.
,, siberica elegantissima.
,, Spaethii.
Elaeagnus pungens aurea, one of the most beautiful variegated evergreens.
,, pungens variegata, white.
Euonymus japonicus albo-marginatus, very good for the south coast.
,, japonicus 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 orbiculatus variegatus, yellow.
Sambucus nigra foliis aureis, yellow, retaining its colour well till
autumn.
,, racemosa plumosa aurea, a beautiful cut-leaved Golden Elder.
[Illustration: _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 grass 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 constitution.
Kerria japonica foliis variegatis, white.
Lonicera japonica 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 japonica 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.
[Illustration: _THE FAMOUS ARAUCARIA IMBRICATA AVENUE AT MURTHLY,
N.B._]