TENDER SHRUBS AND TREES IN THE SOUTH-WEST[1]
The possibilities that exist of the successful open-air culture of
tender subjects in the south-west are but little dreamt of by the
majority of English flower-lovers. They doubtless read with interest the
accounts in the horticultural press of Australian, Chilian, and
Californian flowering trees and shrubs growing in their native habitats,
and possibly feel a desire to visit these climes in order that they may
verify with their own eyes the truth of their readings. As a matter of
fact, however, a lengthy sea-voyage is by no means indispensable in
order to view certain of these exotics flourishing in the open air, for
a few hours' journey by rail will bring the passenger to a land where
many of these denizens of other climes may be seen enjoying robust
health under English skies.
The following list of tender shrubs and trees growing in the gardens of
the south-west cannot claim to be an exhaustive one, since it contains
only such as have been personally noticed in good health during rambles
along the southern coast-line of Cornwall and Devon, and, where no
lengthened inspection is possible, it is obvious that certain species
and varieties must be overlooked. Incomplete, however, as it doubtless
is, it should give an idea of the climatic advantages enjoyed by the
district in question.
Many of the subjects mentioned are growing in Tresco Abbey gardens,
Isles of Scilly, but most of these are also found in mainland gardens as
well. Where any have been met with at Tresco only, the fact is noted,
but these may also be present on the mainland.
The soil of the Scillies, which is composed apparently of peat and
disintegrated granite, and is almost identical with much of that around
Penzance, is admirably adapted for hard-wooded Australian, New Zealand,
and Chilian shrubs and trees, and almost all the species and genera
enumerated would be best suited by a compost in which peat and
leaf-mould and granite sand formed the chief proportion, although it
must be allowed that some alluded to have been found to succeed equally
well in sandy loam. Porosity in the soil is indispensable, for, in this
district, where the winter rains are often exceptionally heavy, unless
the water percolates rapidly through the ground, stagnant moisture
collects around the roots, a condition which is absolutely fatal to
success. The advantages of the Cornish granite sand are gradually being
appreciated. Mr. Fitzherbert writes, "I was told the other day by an
acquaintance that since he had imported it by the truck-load to his
Sussex garden he was able to grow many things successfully that he had
before failed with."
ABELIA FLORIBUNDA.--Mexico. A beautiful evergreen shrub, bearing
clusters of drooping pink flowers about 3 inches in length. Requires a
sunny and sheltered site. Finest specimen 6 feet. Several gardens.
ABUTILON VEXILLARIUM.--Rio Grande. A handsome evergreen species
generally grown against a wall. It throws up long, slender, arching
shoots from 6 to 8 feet in length, studded with pendulous ball-shaped
flowers with crimson sepals, yellow petals, and dark-brown stamens which
are very striking and often remain in bloom for six months. Common. _A.
vitifolium_--Chili. A most ornamental evergreen shrub of which there are
two forms, one bearing lavender flowers, the other white. In exceptional
cases it attains a height of 20 feet, and when covered with its large
blossoms, which are about 3 inches in diameter, and feathered to the
ground with foliage, it presents a lovely picture. Large specimens form
pyramids of bloom, and in some gardens numbers of these are to be found.
Wall protection unnecessary.
ACACIAS.--Australia. In Cornish and South Devon gardens many species are
to be met with in robust health. _A. affinis_, very generally confounded
with _A. dealbata_, is the most common. In many cases _A. affinis_ is
grown as _A. dealbata_. The leaves of the former are green, while those
of the latter are bluish and its flowers are less bright in colour. A
group of _A. affinis_ about 35 feet in height was a wonderful sight at
Tregothnan at the end of March, being simply covered with golden blossom
which was thrown into high relief by a background of Ilexes. _A.
verticillata_ is another handsome species flowering later in the spring.
It is a very rapid grower, reaching a height of 15 feet in a few years,
generally growing in the form of a broad-based cone, with its lower
branches but a foot or so from the ground. When in flower it is so
covered with its pale-yellow blossoms that no foliage is discernible.
_A. armata_ may be seen as a bush 7 feet high and as much in diameter.
_A. ovata_ Mr. Fitzherbert has only seen as a bush some 3 feet high;
very pretty when bearing its circular, golden flower-bells. _A.
longifolia_ is another handsome tree, with leaves something like those
of an Oleander and bright-yellow flowers. _A. melanoxylon_ is a fine
tree. The specimen at Tresco is about 50 feet in height, and there are
good examples on the mainland. Pale-yellow flowers produced in
profusion. Other species met with are _A. riceana_, _A. (Albizzia)
lophantha_, _A. calamifolia_, _A. linifolia_, _A. latifolia_, and _A.
platyptera_, the latter against a wall.
ADENANDRA FRAGRANS.--Cape of Good Hope. A small evergreen shrub, bearing
fragrant, rose-coloured flowers. Tregothnan.
ANOPTERUS GLANDULOSA.--Tasmania. A vigorous evergreen shrub, with dark,
shining green leaves, bearing long, erect terminal racemes of white,
cup-shaped flowers, resembling the blooms of _Clethra arborea_, but
larger. Tregothnan.
ACANTHOPANAX SPINOSUM.--Garden seedling. A striking plant with
dark-green, large-sized leaves divided into five sections. Height at
present 5 feet. Tregothnan.
ASTER (OLEARIA) ARGOPHYLLUS.--Australia. The Silver Musk tree, with
musk-scented leaves and dull-red flowers in summer. Three gardens.
Height 12 feet.
ATHROTAXIS LAXIFOLIA.--Tasmania. A tender Conifer. A fine example, 20
feet in height, fruited profusely at Menabilly two years ago.
BANKSIA GRANDIS.--Australia. Evergreen shrub, bearing yellow flowers in
dense spikes. _B. serrata_, red flowers, and _B. littoralis_. All at
Tresco. _B. quercifolia_, handsome leaves, with white reverse.
Abbotsbury. Banksias were at one time in request as greenhouse plants.
BAUERA RUBIOIDES.--New South Wales. A pretty little evergreen shrub not
unlike a Heath, but more branching, bearing solitary, pink,
saucer-shaped flowers half an inch across, each petal striped with white
down the centre.
BENTHAMIA (CORNUS CAPITATA) FRAGIFERA.--Nepaul. A handsome, evergreen
tree, first introduced into England in 1825, when seed was sown at
Heligan, Cornwall, and where there are now specimens some 60 feet in
height. It is largely represented throughout Cornwall, being used in
some places as a woodland tree. In June, when the leafage is hidden by
the wide-spread, platter-like flowers of pale yellow, its effect is very
beautiful, especially when thrown up by a background of green foliage.
In the autumn the fruits, from which it takes its name of Strawberry
tree, some an inch or more in diameter, become bright crimson.
BORONIA.--Australia. These are almost universally treated as greenhouse
plants, but succeed in the open air in the south-west. At Tregothnan, at
the end of March, two bushes of _B. megastigma_, planted in front of a
wall, the larger of which was about 3 feet in height, were coming into
profuse bloom, and already scented the air with the first of their
brown, yellow-lined, drooping cups. _B. heterophylla_, with its
purple-red flowers was also expanding blooms, and _B. Drummondii_, _B.
elatior_, and _B. polygalaefolia_ were also growing in the same garden.
BRACHYGLOTTIS REPANDA.--New Zealand. A handsome tree, with leaves nearly
a foot in length and numerous minute flower-heads. Tresco.
BUDDLEIA COLVILLEI.--Sikkim. The finest of the new race, with pendulous
racemes, nearly a foot in length, of crimson, pentstemon-like flowers,
paler round the centre, an inch across. Leaves large and dark green, 6
inches or more in length. Several gardens.
CALLISTEMON SALIGNUS.--Australia. There are two forms of this
Bottle-brush, one bearing pale-yellow flowers and the other crimson.
Others are _C. lanceolatus_, carmine-flowered, and _C. speciosus_,
scarlet-flowered. These grow well as bushes, specimens of the
first-named being sometimes 10 feet in height and as much in diameter.
There is much confusion between this genus and _Metrosideros
floribunda_. Callistemons are to be found in many gardens.
CAMELLIA RETICULATA.--This is hardy, but rarely flowers satisfactorily
in the open except in the south-west, where it is grown both against
walls and as a bush plant. It is by far the finest of the Camellias,
bearing lovely, pink, semi-double flowers 6 inches in diameter, with
bright-yellow, spreading stamens.
CANDOLLEA TETRANDRA.--Australia. An evergreen bush bearing clear-yellow,
cup-shaped flowers somewhat resembling Sun Roses, but of finer texture.
Tresco.
CANTUA BUXIFOLIA.--Peru. An evergreen shrub, bearing in corymbs at the
end of the branches pale-red trumpet-flowers something after the style
of _Fuchsia corymbiflora_. Tresco.
CARPENTERIA CALIFORNICA.--A well-known evergreen shrub in the
south-west, bearing fragrant, white, yellow-centred flowers. In some
gardens it suffers from browning of the leaves, but this is apparently
not the effect of cold winds or frost, as often the most exposed plants
are the least affected and the most sheltered are in the worst plight.
The finest specimen known to Mr. Fitzherbert is about 8 feet high and as
much through; it is growing near Teignmouth. It may be considered fairly
hardy since it has been grown in the open in Scotland.
CARYOPTERIS MASTACANTHUS.--Chili. A most valuable, much-branched
evergreen shrub growing to a height of 4 feet or more, bearing
lavender-blue clusters of flowers in October. There is also a white
form. The type is common. This is also happy farther north.
CASSINIA LEPTOPHYLLA.--New Zealand. A small evergreen shrub, bearing
white flower-heads. Tregothnan.
CEANOTHUS.--California and Mexico. Many species and varieties are grown
both as bushes, in which form they soon make small trees, and trained
against walls. Of the early-flowering varieties _C. veitchianus_ is the
brightest coloured, and of the autumn-blooming, azureus section, Gloire
de Versailles is the favourite. Common in most gardens.
CITHAREXYLOM QUADRANGULARE.--West Indies. The Fiddle-wood. Bears white,
fragrant flowers. There is a fine specimen at Abbotsbury. Dorset.
CITRUS TRIFOLIATA (OEGLE SEPIARIA).--Japan. This fiercely-spined Citrus
is hardy, but rarely flowers and fruits in the north. In the south-west
it flowers freely, and one specimen fruits almost annually. It is 7 feet
in height, and last year carried over thirty fruits.
CLERODENDRON TRICHOTOMUM.--Japan. A deciduous shrub, also hardy, but
flowering best in the south-west. A fine specimen over 15 feet in height
and as much through is at Greenway on the Dart.
CLETHRA ARBOREA.--Madeira. The Lily-of-the-Valley tree. Evergreen. It
bears panicles of white, bell-shaped flowers in the summer, at which
time it is quite a feature at Tresco. There are good bushes, the
largest about 7 feet in height, at Trewidden, near Penzance.
COROKIA BUDDLEIOIDES.--New Zealand. A tall-growing evergreen shrub, with
leaves 2 to 6 inches in length. _C. Cotoneaster_ is a spreading shrub
with small leaves. Both species bear yellow, sweet-scented flowers. The
first was at Ludgvan Rectory, Cornwall, the second at Bishop's Teignton.
South Devon.
CORREA.--Australia. Greenhouse evergreen shrubs which do well at Tresco,
and also in some gardens on the mainland. _C. cardinalis_ is the most
brilliant, but _C. ventricosa_ is almost as highly coloured. The two
named, as well as _C. alba_, _C. bicolor_, _C. carnea_, _C. glauca_, _C.
magnifica_, and _C. virens_ are sometimes seen in good health and flower
on the mainland.
CORYNOCARPUS LAEVIGATUS.--New Zealand. An evergreen tree, bearing
panicles of white flowers followed by plum-like fruit. A healthy young
plant is at Ludgvan Rectory.
CRINODENDRON HOOKERI (TRICUSPIDARIA HEXAPETALA).--Chili. A particularly
handsome shrub, growing to a height of 5 feet, bearing large, drooping,
cherry-red, urn-shaped flowers on long peduncles, the petals being very
fine in texture. In many gardens.
CYTISUS RACEMOSUS.--Peak of Teneriffe. One of the commonest and most
popular greenhouse plants. It grows to 8 or 10 feet in height in the
south-west and often flowers until Christmas.
DAPHNE INDICA.--India. Both the white and purple-red form of this
fragrant plant are common in the open in Devon and Cornwall, and in mild
seasons commence to bloom in January. Some old plants have formed large
bushes in front of walls.
DAPHNIPHYLLUM GLAUCESCENS.--China. Evergreen. This is hardy, but is
uncommon. A very large specimen is at Trewidden, and is 12 feet in
height and 20 feet in spread. It has long shining leaves, the shoots
being red in colour; these, early in April, are surrounded by closely
clustered, maroon-red flower-buds.
DATURA SANGUINEA.--Peru. This grows to a large size in the south-west,
often forming a tree 12 feet or more in height, and, in mild winters,
blooming until February. _D. suaveolens_, Mexico, is probably more
tender, as such large specimens are rarely seen.
DENDROMECON RIGIDUS.--California. A handsome shrub with glaucous leaves,
the branchlets terminated by bright-yellow poppy-like flowers. It
succeeds best in poor soil that does not induce vigorous growth. Enys.
DESFONTAINEA SPINOSA.--Chili. A most distinct evergreen shrub, with
leaves resembling those of a Holly. It bears tubular flowers 3 inches in
length of a bright vermilion tipped with yellow, and is a very handsome
object when in full flower. It commences to bloom in the summer, and
often holds many of its flowers until November. The largest specimen met
with was about 8 feet in height, and was in the neighbourhood of
Teignmouth. The Desfontainea is to be found in most gardens.
DIOSMA ERICOIDES.--South Africa. A heath-like evergreen shrub, bearing
single white flowers not unlike those of a Myrtle. Its leaves are
fragrant when bruised. A healthy plant, about 4 ft. by 4 ft., trained
against a wall, was coming into bloom at Tregothnan at the end of March.
DIOSPYROS KAKI.--The Persimmon. China. This is hardy, but rarely fruits
except in the south-west. A tree at Bishop's Teignton produced fruit,
which ripened well, in 1890. In autumn the colouring of its foliage is
very attractive.
DRIMYS (TASMANNIA) AROMATICA.--Tasmania. An evergreen shrub or small
tree, bearing tiny white flowers in spring. Its leaves, if bitten, are
very pungent, stinging the palate like pepper. The finest specimen known
to the writer is one 15 feet in height at Menabilly. _D. Winteri_--South
America. A handsome flowering shrub, bearing ivory-yellow, fragrant
flowers, an inch across. At Bishop's Teignton there is a good example
over 12 feet in height. Both species are fairly well distributed in
gardens.
DRYOBALANOPS AROMATICA.--Sumatra. The Camphor tree. There is at
Penjerrick a good specimen 20 feet in height.
EDWARDSIA GRANDIFLORA SYN. SOPHORA TETRAPTERA.--The New Zealand
Laburnum. This and its variety _E. microphylla_ bear racemes of yellow
flowers, the individual blooms being 2 inches long in the first case,
and about half the length in the second, in the spring. Examples 10 feet
or so in height are to be found in some gardens.
[Illustration: _EDWARDSIA GRANDIFLORA._]
EMBOTHRIUM COCCINEUM.--South America. The Fire Bush. The most brilliant
of all flowering trees capable of outdoor culture in this country. In
May every twig is laden with clusters of long flowers of glowing
scarlet, the trees presenting a most gorgeous spectacle. Every good
garden in Cornwall and most in South Devon possesses specimens, some
containing a dozen or more. The finest are probably Trewidden and
Penjerrick, where they are 30 feet in height and as much in spread.
ERIOSTEMON BUXIFOLIUS.--Australia. A small evergreen shrub, bearing pink
flowers in the spring. Tresco.
ESCALLONIA ILLINITA.--Chili. Bears white flowers in July. There is one
15 feet high at Menabilly. _E. revoluta_--Chili. Bears white flowers
three quarters of an inch long in August, 20 feet high. Menabilly. _E.
organensis_--Organ Mountains. Bears rose-coloured flowers. Fine
specimens in more than one garden. _E. floribunda_--Montevideo. Bears
fragrant white flowers in August. Common in the south-west.
EUCALYPTI.--Australia. Some thirty or forty specimens are grown, of
which perhaps the best known are: _E. globulus_, which has attained a
height of 50 feet; _E. citriodora_, 20 feet, against the house at
Togerthnan; _E. amygdalina_, &c. Many flower freely and bear fertile
seed. _E. Gunnii_ flowers freely at Parkstone, Dorset, in Professor
Wallace's garden. It is quite hardy there.
EUCRYPHIA PINNATIFOLIA.--Chili. A beautiful deciduous flowering shrub,
bearing large white flowers like a St. John's Wort, with bright-yellow
anthers. A specimen at Trewidden is 8 feet in height.
EUONYMUS FIMBRIATUS.--Japan and India. This shrub is chiefly remarkable
for the tint of its young leafage, which is bright crimson, and gives a
vivid, flower-like effect at a little distance in April. Met with at
Tregothnan and Abbotsbury.
EUPATORIUM WEINMANNIANUM.--South America. This soon grows into a rounded
bush 10 feet or so in height and as much in diameter. It bears its flat
heads of fragrant white flowers in autumn and well into winter, the
flowers being succeeded by fluffy seed-vessels. It is quite common.
EURYA LATIFOLIA.--Japan. Half-hardy. An evergreen shrub, with leaves
somewhat like those of a Camellia, bearing small white flowers. There is
a variegated form that at one time was used for greenhouse decoration.
Tresco.
FABIANA IMBRICATA.--Chili. A charming evergreen heath-like shrub,
bearing a profusion of pure-white tubular flowers clustered thickly
around every shoot. A fine example 8 feet in height is at Trelissick,
but it is a common plant in the south-west.
[Illustration: _FABIANA IMBRICATA IN FLOWER IN A DEVONSHIRE GARDEN._]
FAGUS CLIFFORTIOIDES.--The New Zealand Beech. A tree with minute leaves,
which have given it the name of Birch in its native land. In New
Zealand it is evergreen, but in this country is deciduous. A good
specimen is at Enys.
FREMONTIA CALIFORNICA.--An extremely handsome deciduous flowering shrub,
bearing bright-yellow, cupped flowers 3 inches in diameter with orange
stamens. It often remains in bloom for months. Large plants have
unfortunately a way of dying off when apparently in good health, several
fine specimens having succumbed in this manner. The finest we now know
of is one growing in bush form about 8 feet in height at Newton Abbot,
but the same garden contained at one time a larger example.
GREVILLEA.--Australia. _G. rosmarinifolia_, with carmine-red flowers,
forms a vigorous shrub, growing to a height of 8 feet with a spread of 7
feet. It is to be found in many gardens. At Tregothnan, _G. Priessii_,
with pink and yellow flowers; _G. alpina_, red-tipped yellow; and _G.
sulphurea_ are grown; and we have seen _G. robusta_, which had been in
the open for three years. All species are evergreen.
GUEVINA AVELLANA.--Chili. A very ornamental evergreen tree, with large
impari-pinnate leaves of a deep, glossy green, bearing white flowers
followed by coral-red fruit the size of a cherry. There is a fine
specimen at Greenway, 20 feet in height, which has ripened fruits from
which seedlings have been raised.
HABROTHAMNUS CORYMBOSUS.--Mexico. This well-known red-flowered
greenhouse shrub does admirably as a bush plant in the open, as does _H.
elegans_, with purple-red flowers. They often carry bloom as late as
November and are frequently met with.
HAKEA LAURINA.--Australia. An evergreen shrub, bearing clusters of
rosy-lilac flowers. Menabilly. Mr. Fitzherbert says, "I am not aware if
it has flowered in this country."
HELIOCARPUS CYANEUS.--Tropical America. A small evergreen tree, bearing
blue flowers. Tresco.
HOHERIA POPULNEA.--New Zealand. The Houhere of the natives. Ribbon-wood.
With pure white flowers and a handsome foliage. Enys and other gardens.
ILLICIUM ANISATUM.--Japan. A half-hardy evergreen shrub, bearing
clusters of ivory-white flowers. Held sacred by the Japanese, who burn
the bark before the shrines of their deities. Tresco. _I. floridanum_,
Southern States of America, bearing maroon flowers. Not uncommon.
INDIGOFERA GERARDIANA.--India. A low-branching evergreen shrub, with
finely-divided foliage, bearing racemes 5 inches in length of
rose-purple, pea-like flowers. Common. There is a white variety which is
rarely seen.
JACARANDA MIMOSAEFOLIA.--Brazil. A very graceful evergreen tree with
acacia-like leaves a foot in length, bearing panicles of drooping
violet-blue flowers. There is a fine young plant at Rosehill, Falmouth.
LAGERSTROEMIA INDICA.--A handsome deciduous shrub, bearing large
bright-pink flowers.
LEPTOSPERMUM.--Australia. _L. baccatum_ and _L. scoparium_ are the most
generally met with. Both bear small white flowers and are evergreen.
We have seen the former 12 feet and the latter 20 feet in height. Other
species are also grown.
LIBONIA FLORIBUNDA.--Brazil. The favourite greenhouse flowering shrub,
bearing drooping scarlet and yellow blossoms. Tresco and one mainland
garden.
LITSEA GENICULATA.--Southern United States. A deciduous shrub or tree,
bearing white flowers in May. The largest in England is probably one at
Menabilly, 25 feet in height.
MELALEUCA HYPERICIFOLIA.--Australia. An evergreen shrub, bearing scarlet
bottle-brush flowers. Tresco.
MELIA AZEDARACH.--Tropical Asia. The Bead tree, so called from the seeds
being used for rosaries, bearing much-branched panicles of fragrant
lilac flowers. Leaves bipinnate and deeply serrated. Rosehill.
Evergreen.
MELIANTHUS MAJOR.--Cape of Good Hope. A well-known plant in sub-tropical
gardening. At Rosehill it has reached a height of 12 feet.
METROSIDEROS ROBUSTA.--New Zealand. An evergreen tree, bearing clusters
of brilliant crimson flowers at the extremities of the shoots; in this
it differs from Callistemon, whose flowers encircle the branchlets some
distance below the extremities. Tresco; 30 feet in height.
MITRARIA COCCINEA.--Chili. An evergreen shrub, bearing bright-scarlet
flowers. This is to be found 6 feet in some gardens.
MYOPORUM LAETUM.--Australia. Native name, Guaio. An evergreen tree,
bearing small white flowers, and having lanceolate leaves dotted with
countless transparent spots. Two mainland gardens.
NERIUM OLEANDER.--Mediterranean. The Oleander. This is established, and
flowers in sheltered nooks on the mainland.
OZOTHAMNUS ROSMARINIFOLIUS.--Australia. An evergreen shrub, bearing
countless, minute, white flowers. Sprays, if cut when the flowers are
fully expanded, will retain their decorative qualities for a year. It is
common in the south-west, and at Trewidden there are bushes 8 feet in
height.
PAULOWNIA IMPERIALIS.--Japan. A hardy deciduous flowering tree, bearing
erect panicles of large, lilac, gloxinia-like flowers. Owing to the
spring frosts, it rarely perfects these except in sheltered sites in
mild springs, but when in good bloom it is marvellously beautiful.
PENTSTEMON CORDIFOLIUS.--California. A tall-growing species, bearing
bright-scarlet flowers in the summer. With the shelter of a wall it
grows to a height of 5 feet or more. Trewidden.
PHILESIA BUXIFOLIA.--Chili. A dwarf evergreen shrub, rarely exceeding 2
feet in height, bearing drooping, pink lapageria-like blossoms. To be
found in many gardens.
PHOTINIA JAPONICA.--Japan. The Loquat. This hardy, ornamental-foliaged
tree is practically hardy, and at Enys flowers annually. We believe,
however, that it has not fruited. The finest specimen we know of, 15
feet in height with a head 12 feet through, is at Saltram.
PIERIS FORMOSA.--Himalayas. This so-called Andromeda is widely met with.
The finest example is at Pentillie Castle, and is 20 feet in height with
a spread of 30 feet. When this is white with its clustering
flower-sprays it is a lovely sight.
PIMELEA DECUSSATA.--Australia. An evergreen shrub, bearing rose-red,
globular flower-heads at the extremities of the branches. Tresco.
PINUS MONTEZUMAE.--Mexico. A noble and distinct Pine, good specimens of
which are at Tregothnan and Menabilly, where it has fruited.
[Illustration: _PINUS MONTEZUMAE AT FOTA._]
PIPTANTHUS NEPALENSIS.--Nepaul. An evergreen shrub, bearing numbers of
bright-yellow laburnum-like flowers. It seems indifferent to soil, and
may be seen flourishing under adverse circumstances. Common.
PLAGIANTHUS BETULINUS.--New Zealand. Ribbon tree. Bears small white
flowers in clusters. A splendid example 50 feet in height is at
Abbotsbury.
PITTOSPORUM.--New Zealand. Evergreen shrubs. _P. Mayi_, at Tregothnan,
is about 30 feet in height; while we have seen _P. bicolor_ over 20
feet, and many fine examples of _P. undulatum_, _P. tenuifolium_, of
which last a hedge has been made at Falmouth, and other species. All
bear their little flowers in profusion in the south-west. The Japanese
_P. Tobira_ is a hardy shrub, bearing spreading flower-heads of fragrant
white blossom.
PODOCARPUS ANDINA.--Chili. A handsome evergreen tree to be found in most
gardens. At Penjerrick there is a specimen 40 feet in height.
POINCIANA (CAESALPINA) GILLIESI.--South America. An evergreen shrub with
acacia-like foliage, bearing clusters of large yellow flowers with
bright-red stamens. Mr. Fitzherbert says, "The finest specimen I have
seen was in the late Rev. H. Ewbank's garden at Ryde, but I know of
smaller ones in the south-west."
POLYGALA GRANDIFOLIA (syns. _grandis_, &c.).--Bahia. An evergreen
flowering shrub, the finest of its race, bearing large rose and white
flowers. Tregothnan.
PSEUDOPANAX CRASSIFOLIUM.--New Zealand. An evergreen shrub with
dark-green thick leaves 2 feet in length, with orange midribs. Ludgvan
Rectory.
PUNICA GRANATUM.--The Pomegranate is a neglected shrub in English
gardens. Planted at the foot of a south wall, and treated generally like
a well-groomed Peach tree, it will flower from June to September. It is
not a shrub for cold climates, but Mr. Watson, writing in the _Garden_,
October 26, p. 283, says, "At Kew three varieties are grown outdoors,
namely, the type, the big double-white flowered variety, with petals
margined with white, Picotee-like, and the dwarf variety known as Nana.
There are other forms beside these, including a white-flowered one which
I have seen in Paris gardens, where old--very old--standard plants are
grown and treasured. The dwarf variety is cultivated as a pot plant in
some continental countries. I have seen it in the Hamburg florists'
shops, pretty little pyramids in 5-inch pots, covered with flowers.
Fruits are rarely produced by the Pomegranate in England."
RHAPITHAMNUS CYANOCARPUS.--Chili. An evergreen tree, bearing pale-blue
flowers, followed by violet-blue berries. A fine specimen 20 feet in
height is at Menabilly.
RUBUS AUSTRALIS.--A Bramble, the only form of which is worth growing,
and that merely as a curiosity, is a practically leafless one. The
leaves are indeed there, but they consist merely of three midribs armed
with curved spines, and terminated by leaflets less than an inch in
length of an inch in breadth. A large plant at Bishop's Teignton has
smothered a Euonymus bush, and climbed into an adjacent Fir.
SENECIO.--Many of the newer evergreen exotic species, such as _S.
Grayii_, _S. Fosterii_, _S. Heretieri_, and others are grown, while in
Rosehill garden is a fifty-year-old plant of the Mexican _S. Petasitis_,
8 feet in height.
SOLANUM CRISPUM.--Chili. An evergreen flowering shrub, bearing lavender
yellow-centred flowers in profusion, often reaching a height of 8 feet.
Quite common.
SPARMANNIA AFRICANA.--Cape of Good Hope. African Hemp. An evergreen
shrub, bearing masses of white flowers with ruby-tipped anthers; a
well-known greenhouse plant. At Tresco both the single and double
forms are grown, and attain a height of 10 feet. The single form is also
met with in mainland gardens, where it is often in flower in February.
VERONICA HULKEANA.--New Zealand. An evergreen shrub, bearing branching
panicles of pale-lilac flowers, doing best with the support and
protection of a wall. To be found in many gardens.
WESTRINGIA TRIPHYLLA.--Australia. Evergreen shrub, bearing blue flowers
in summer. Tregothnan.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Probably all the trees and shrubs mentioned in this and the
following chapter will succeed in Ireland.