THE USE OF HARDY CLIMBING SHRUBS[2]
The best and best known of our good hardy climbing shrubs are by no
means neglected, but yet they are not nearly as much or as well used as
they might be. Such a fine thing as the easily-grown _Clematis montana_
will not only cover house and garden walls with its sheets of lovely
bloom, but it is willing to grow in wilder ways among trees and shrubs,
where its natural way of making graceful garlands and hanging ropes of
bloom shows its truest and best uses much better than when it is trained
straight along the joints of walls or tied in more stiffly and closely.
Even if there are only a few stiff bushes such as Gorse or low Thorns to
support and guide it, it gladly covers them just as does the Traveller's
Joy (_Clematis Vitalba_) of our chalkland hedges. This climber, though a
native plant and very common in calcareous soils, is worthy of any
garden. _C. V. rosea_ is a very fine variety. _Clematis Flammula_ is
another of the family that should be more often treated in a free way,
and grown partly trained through the branches of a Yew or an Ilex. The
less-known _Clematis orientalis_, with yellow flowers and feathery
seeds, and the fine October-blooming _C. paniculata_, make up five
members of one family, apart from the large-flowered Clematises, that
all lend themselves willingly to this class of pictorial treatment.
[Illustration: _CLEMATIS MONTANA OVER ROUGH WALL._]
One of the most important of our climbing shrubs, the _Wistaria_, makes
grand growth in all the south of England. This also can be used to
excellent effect trained into some rather thinly-furnished tree such as
an old Acacia. Its grey snake-like stems and masses of bloom high up in
the supporting tree are shown to excellent effect. This is also a fine
plant for a pergola. A few plants growing free and rambling full length
would, after the first few years, when they are getting old, cover a
pergola from end to end. The piers or posts could also be covered with
the same, for though the nature of the plant is to ramble, yet if kept
to one stem and closely pruned it readily adapts itself to pillar form,
and bears a wonderful quantity of bloom.
[Illustration: _CLEMATIS MONTANA OVER ARCHWAY._]
Among the Grape Vines there is a great variety of ways of use other than
the stiff wall training they generally receive. If they are wanted for
fruit they must be pruned, but most outdoor Vines are grown for the
beauty of their foliage. Here is another first-class pergola plant,
making dense leafy shade, and growing in a way that is delightfully
pictorial. Nothing looks better rambling over old buildings. Now that so
many once prosperous farms are farms no longer, and that their
dwelling-houses are being converted to the use of another class of
occupier, the rough out-buildings, turned into stabling, and adapted for
garden sheds, often abut upon the new-made pleasure-garden. This is the
place where the Vines may be so well planted. If the main stem only is
trained or guided it is well to leave the long branches to shift for
themselves, for they will ramble and dispose themselves in so pictorial
a way that the whole garden is bettered by their rioting grandeur of
leaf mass.
_Aristolochia Sipho_, with its twining stems and handsome leaves, will,
like the Vine and the Virginian Creeper, answer to all these uses of
jungle-like growth among trees and shrubs and free climbing in hedge,
over pergola or rough building.
The employment of the climbing and rambling Roses is also now understood
for all such uses, and the illustration shows the value of the Dutch
Honeysuckle for this purpose.
A rough hedge containing perhaps only a few Thorns and Hollies and stub
Oaks, and a filling of Wild Brambles, may be made glorious with the free
hardy climbers just guided into the bushes and then left to ramble as
they will.
In the growth of the rarer and most distinct and beautiful of climbing
shrubs one must in the main be guided by the natural surroundings of
soil and shelter or by climatic conditions. In the cold midland and
northern districts of England we have seen common Laurels and many Roses
killed to the ground during severe winters.
In Hampshire, Devon, and Cornwall, and in many other isolated and
sheltered nooks near the sea in England south of the Thames, many
so-called cool greenhouse plants often grow and thrive luxuriantly in
the open air. This is also true of many localities in the south and west
of Ireland, such as Fota, Cork, Bantry, and Tralee, where New Zealand,
Japanese, Californian, and many Chilian shrubs are quite happy in the
open air. Nearly all visitors to Glengarriff notice the luxuriance of
the Fuchsias, which, not being cut down there every winter by severe
frosts, assume more or less of a tree-like aspect, and are literally one
mass of brilliant coral-red flowers during summer and autumn. But it is
even more wonderful to see there growing up the front of the hotels and
elsewhere such plants as _Maurandya_, _Lophospermum_, _Mikania_, and
Cape Pelargoniums year after year. But, apart from mild climates, aspect
has an enormous effect on many climbing shrubs, and especially on light
dry soils. _Lapageria_, for example, prefers a northern exposure, and
the same is true of _Berberidopsis corallina_, and the remarkable
_Mutisia decurrens_. Many climbers and trailers, again, are hardy on
north or north-western walls that are ruined by bright sunshine after
frost, which is often experienced on south and especially south-western
exposures. Even when climbers like _Wistaria_, _Jasminum nudiflorum_,
_Ceanothus_, _Pyrus_ and many others are perfectly hardy on sunny walls
it is often a great advantage to train a few branches over the top of
the wall to the shady side, as in these cases there is a week or ten
days or more difference in the time of blooming, and so an agreeable
succession is obtained.
In planting both walls and pergolas there is danger in planting too
thickly, and in planting too hurriedly or without sufficient
preparation. We all must perforce often do the best we can rather than
the best we know. Large-growing, permanent shrubs, such as _Pyrus
japonica_, _Wistaria_, and _Magnolias_, which may remain in the same
spot for twenty years or more, often fail through starvation, and in any
case never attain their full luxuriance and beauty if cramped and
stunted during the first few years after planting. Again, it must be
remembered that both wall and pergola creepers often suffer from dryness
during the summer and autumn months, and provision should be made for
necessary mulching and watering.
There is one important point that must be attended to in the planting of
anything of which the general hardiness is not fully assured, and that
is, never plant late in autumn. The golden rule with all half-hardy
things is to plant well in April or May, after all danger from severe
frost, &c., is over, so as to allow the plants a long summer and autumn
season of root and top-growth before the stress and strain of winter
weather come upon them. In this way many plants will succeed perfectly
in establishing themselves that would at once die off if planted out in
October or November.
ABELIA.--_A. floribunda_ is a Mexican plant. Mr. Burbidge writes in the
_Garden_, April 14, 1900, p. 272: "I have seen it very handsome in
flower on a low wall at Mount Usher, county Wicklow. Its pendent
flowers in axillary clusters are of a rich purple red, and remind one of
some Fuchsias." _A. chinensis_, a Chinese plant, is very pretty, as also
is _A. triflora_ from North India.
ABUTILON.--Several of the Abutilons are sufficiently hardy to thrive on
walls or in borders near to heated plant-houses. Mr. Burbidge writes in
the _Garden_: "I have seen _A. striatum_, _A. vexillarium_, and _A.
vitifolium_ grow and bloom for years outside. The last-named forms a
spreading bush 10 to 13 feet high in South, West, and Eastern Ireland.
It has leaves somewhat resembling those of the Grape Vine, and clusters
of pale-lilac, mauve, or lavender-tinted flowers that remind one of
those of _Meconopsis Wallichi_ in shape, size, and colour. _A.
vitifolium_ comes from Chili, and enjoys shelter and ample root
moisture, being apt to suffer from drought near walls, otherwise it
grows well thereon." _Abutilon vexillarium_, when afforded the
protection of a south wall, blooms for eight months out of the twelve,
bearing on slender, curving shoots its handsome, bell-shaped flowers
with their crimson sepals, yellow petals, and protruding dark-brown
stamens well into the month of December should no severe frost occur.
Florists' varieties of the Abutilon, such as Boule de Neige, also do
well on sheltered walls.
ADLUMIA CIRRHOSA.--This grows quickly, and the fern-like leaves,
covering almost the twining stems, possess much beauty; the flowers are
white. A biennial, but sows itself freely. North America.
AKEBIA QUINATA.--A most distinct Japanese creeper with five-lobed
leaves and twining stems; although generally grown in a greenhouse,
where it flowers in January or February, it is quite hardy in mild
sea-shore places, and bears its monoecious flowers in April or May. The
rich wine-purple flowers are borne in axillary grape-like clusters, and
their translucent petals are very beautiful as seen between the eye and
the light. It likes a rich, deep, loamy soil, and is increased by
suckers or layers. Although introduced to our gardens from Chusan in
1845, it has never become very abundant, but it deserves a place for its
distinctive character.
ALOYSIA CITRIODORA (Sweet Verbena).--Another popular name for the
_Aloysia_ is Lemon plant; it is a fragrant pale-green leaved bush, not
very hardy, and therefore best placed when against a sunny wall. Except
in quite the south of England and Ireland, it is generally wise to cover
over the stems with a straw mat and heap ashes over the roots. It is
often seen as a large bush against the sea. We have seen it thus on the
Carnarvon coast. Chili.
AMPELOPSIS.--Now included with the Vines (_Vitis_).
APIOS TUBEROSA.--This has pea-shaped violet-scented flowers. It is
sometimes pretty rambling over a shrub. North America.
ARISTOLOCHIA SIPHO (Dutchman's Pipe).--Frequently planted against a
wall; its leaves are very large and handsome, and the dull-coloured
flowers, owing to their shape, have given rise to the popular name.
ATRAGENE ALPINA.--A hardy wall climber, and known under the name of
_Clematis alpina_. It enjoys a lime soil. A native of Europe.
AZARA.--The best known of these is _A. microphylla_; it is not one of
the hardiest of shrubs, but in many gardens, especially where sheltered
and by the sea, it covers much space with dense glossy leaves; the
flowers are white, small, and give place to orange-coloured berries in
autumn. It is quite a shrubby wall plant.
BENTHAMIA FRAGIFERA.--Now known as _Cornus capitata_, but in gardens its
old name will long be retained. In Devon, Cornwall, and in Wicklow,
Cork, and Kerry, and elsewhere in Ireland, this fine shrub flowers and
fruits luxuriantly as a bush on the border or lawn, but in less favoured
places it needs the warmth and shelter of a wall. It is a native of
Nepaul, and is readily increased from home-grown seeds, and the plant,
like all its allies, is a rapid grower in any deep, rich, loamy soil.
Quite small bushes of this plant and the common _Arbutus Unedo_ are
often very handsome as seen laden with fruit in South and Western
Ireland.
BERBERIDOPSIS CORALLINA.--Mr. Burbidge writes in the _Garden_: "The
finest specimen of this beautiful and distinct evergreen climber I ever
saw was on the stable wall at Lakelands, Cork, when that noble place was
in the hands of the late Mr. William Crawford, a great lover of garden
vegetation. It is a native of the Chilian Andes, introduced in 1862. It
likes a deep peaty soil or loam and leaf-mould on a moist bottom, and,
like the _Lapageria_ and its dwarf cousin _Philesia_, it enjoys a
northern or shaded aspect, rarely thriving for long together in full
sunshine. Its flowers resemble those of the Berberis, but are much
larger, have pendent stalks, and are of the brightest coral-red or blood
colour. It grows and flowers here in a shaded corner under an ivy-topped
wall."
BIGNONIA CAPREOLATA.--This is the hardiest of the Bignonias. It needs a
warm wall, and there is much beauty in the warm, reddish-orange,
trumpet-shaped flowers, which are in clusters from April to August. It
grows to a considerable height. North America.
BILLARDIERA LONGIFLORA.--This is the Apple Berry of Tasmania, and is of
elegant twining habit, its greenish-yellow flowers, which are not very
showy, being succeeded by handsome blue berries that are very
ornamental, and are similar in shape and size to Fuchsia fruits. The
plant is closely related to the _Pittosporums_ of New Zealand, and grows
2 or 3 feet in height. There are two or three other kinds, but none
prettier than _B. longiflora_. It grows best in moist peat and
sandstone, at the foot of a half-shaded wall.
CALYSTEGIA.--Also known as Convolvulus. _C. pubescens fl. pl._, the
double Bindweed, is more useful for rough stumps than walls, but may be
included; the flowers are double, of rosy colouring, and large, and
appear during the summer and into the autumn. It is best in warm,
well-drained soil.
CAMELLIA.--Mr. Scrase-Dickins writes in the _Garden_, March 30, 1901, p.
227, as follows about these little-understood hardy shrubs: "The best
Camellias for planting out of doors in the open air are those which
bloom late and start late into growth, such, for instance, as _Chandleri
elegans_ or _Anemonaeflora_; the varieties with broad roundish leaves
appear to grow in more robust fashion than those having narrow pointed
ones with a serrated edge, though the latter will make sometimes very
compact bushes. It is possible that the sorts with dark-red flowers are
hardier than those with pink. The old double white seems to stand the
cold well enough, but it hides its flowers rather too much among the
foliage to make any effective display of them, though in this way they
are often secured from frost or bad weather and made serviceable for
cutting. To train against a trellis or wall _Doncklaarii_ is very good,
and next to _reticulata_ one of the most beautiful when well grown,
blooming so freely.
"Camellias appear to grow in almost any aspect, but are naturally sun
lovers; and though preferring peat, they will do in most other soils,
provided that there is no lime present. The points of the young roots
are very sensitive to drought, so should be protected until well
established, by light mulching or a surrounding growth, from the risk of
being withered up by a fierce sun striking the ground in which they are
starting. Unlike many other shrubs, they seem to have the advantage of
being exempt from the destructive attention of rabbits; perhaps when
snow is on the ground they might be barked, but I do not remember to
have noticed it. Apart from the question of varieties, it may be well to
draw attention to the fact that only strong healthy plants should be
turned out, for sickly specimens from a conservatory or greenhouse are
very slow indeed to make a start, and will remain sometimes for an
astonishing number of years in almost the same pitiable state."
CEANOTHUS.--Beautiful wall shrubs. They cannot be regarded as quite
hardy, but _C. azureus_ in a garden near London has mounted almost to
the chimney stacks; a surface of foliage, and in the appointed season
pale-blue flower clusters. The soil is light and the aspect due south;
and in cold, sunless places the Ceanothuses, it is well to remember,
utterly fail. A warm soil and sunny place suit the shrubs well. Gloire
de Versailles, Lucie Simon, and _pallidus_ are amongst the best of the
others. Of other species, _C. veitchianus_, deep blue, is very
beautiful; and _C. dentatus_ and _C. papillosus_ are also noteworthy.
CHIMONANTHUS FRAGRANS (Winter-sweet).--The variety _grandiflorus_ has
larger flowers and of a clearer shade of citron yellow than those of the
type, and though the plant is bare of leaf the blossoms make a brave
show, and may be descried against a well-toned brick wall from some
little distance. It is just as well to bear in mind that this is one of
the shrubs which bloom on the young wood, and any pruning or cutting out
of useless branches that may be necessary should be done in early spring
when the flowers are over, for if it be delayed there will be no
flowers next year. It may be raised from seed, but seedlings vary
greatly.
CHOISYA TERNATA (Mexican Orange Flower).--Very vigorous, shrubby,
glossy, green-leaved plant; rather tender, but quite happy in northern
gardens if not very exposed. Its clusters of flowers are very sweet and
white.
CLEMATIS (see p. 303).
COTONEASTER (see p. 80).
DIERVILLA.--May be grown against fences and even walls, but are better
against the former. I saw a fence covered with the crimson-flowered Eva
Rathke in a London garden, and flowered abundantly every year.
ECCREMOCARPUS SCABER.--Climber for wall, arch, or pergola, with reddish
flowers. Protect the roots by coating the soil above them with ashes or
some protective material.
EDWARDSIA (SOPHORA) TETRAPTERA.--This is called the New Zealand
Laburnum. A tree in its own country, but a shrubby wall plant here.
_Grandiflora_ is the best variety.
ESCALLONIA (see p. 385).
FUCHSIA.--The hardy Fuchsias are almost unknown, though amongst the most
beautiful of hardy shrubs. My favourite is _F. Riccartoni_, but this
often makes a good hedge. Very charming also are _F. coccinea_, _F.
corymbiflora_, _F. globosa_, _F. macrostemma_, _F. microphylla_, _F.
splendens_, and _F. thymifolia_.
HABLITZIA TAMNOIDES.--Better, perhaps, for arch, pergola, or tree stump
than a wall, but in some cases it may be placed there. It is a vigorous
climber, with misty masses of greenish flowers in summer and autumn. Not
often seen.
HEDERA (Ivy).--The Common Ivy when growing in an exposed position will
often acquire a rich bronzy hue during winter, but in this respect
individual plants vary a good deal, the smaller-leaved forms being as a
rule the richest in colour.
The most marked in this respect, and one that from its neat,
prettily-lobed leaves is well suited for use in making up button-holes,
sprays, &c., is the variety _atropurpurea_, whose distinctive character
is far more marked in winter than in summer. _Hedera Helix minima_ must
not be confounded with _H. H. conglomerata_, though at a certain stage
of growth there is some similarity. A three-year-old specimen differs
from the freer _conglomerata_ form in that it grows more flat both as
regards the twigs and the leaves on the twigs. It has more shining
foliage of a deeper and more sombre green, with pleasing clouded tints,
and further, as the name would suggest, it is a smaller plant in all its
parts. It is a beautiful creeper for positions on the rock garden, and
is one of the best surface plants, as through it bulbs may spear their
growth and flowers without injury. _H. H. pedata_ and _H. H. gracilis_,
both charming varieties of the small-leaved Ivies, should be in every
collection.
The uses to which Ivy may be put are innumerable, and with the many
beautiful varieties that are now to be obtained their sphere of
usefulness has considerably extended. One of the most picturesque
methods of growing Ivy is to allow it to clamber over tree stumps placed
here and there in suitable parts of the garden. Ivy banks also are very
charming, and for carpeting the bare ground beneath the spreading
branches of large trees nothing could be more suitable. For the latter
purpose the shoots should be pegged down and kept in position so that
they may take root. Suitable varieties for this purpose are _H.
dentata_, _H. raegneriana_, _rhombea_, _obovata_, _himalaica_, _pedata_,
_palmata_, _lobata_, &c.; but the best of all is an Ivy called Emerald
green.
[Illustration: _CAMELLIA, LEAF AND FRUIT (outdoors Cheshire)._]
INDIGOFERA GERARDIANA.--During the late summer and early autumn this
leguminiferous shrub is one of the most attractive of those that are
then in flower. Its finely divided pinnate leaves are of a rich deep
green, and almost fern-like in grace and luxuriance. It is, indeed,
worth growing for their sake alone. About the end of June it commences
to flower, produces its flower-spikes in the leaf-axils, and continues
to do so until the middle of September. The flowers are pea-shaped, and
borne on spikes 4 to 5 inches long. The colour is a bright rosy purple.
The species is a native of the Himalaya, and its stems do not survive
winters of even moderate severity. The root-stock is, however, perfectly
hardy, and it sends up a thicket of young growths every spring 2 to 4
feet long, which flower the same summer. It is not suited for growing in
large masses by itself, because it starts rather slowly, and the season
is advanced before the space the plants occupy becomes furnished. But it
is very suitable for the herbaceous border, or, still better, as an
undergrowth beneath groups of taller, thinly-planted shrubs. It is happy
also against a wall. Also known as _I. floribunda_.
JASMINUM.--The White Jasmine (_J. officinale_) is too well known to
describe. It is one of the best of the cheaper wall climbers. _Affine_
is the best variety; it has larger flowers. _J. humile_ (_revolutum_),
although an Indian species, will succeed against a wall; it has yellow
flowers and is evergreen. _J. fruticans_, another bushy species, may
also be grown; its flowers are yellow, and succeeded by an abundance of
round black berries which are very distinct and pleasing in winter. Of
course, the beautiful, fragrant, yellow-flowered _J. nudiflorum_ will
not be omitted. The new _J. primulinum_ has large yellow flowers in
spring. Wants a wall.
KERRIA JAPONICA.--Sometimes grown against a wall, but an excellent bush
for grouping, except in very cold and exposed gardens. The flowers are
yellow and produced abundantly. It should be more grown. The double
variety, _K. j. flore-pleno_, is frequently seen against cottage walls,
and making a cloud of yellow from the double rosette-like flowers in
early summer. The major form of this is the best.
[Illustration: _DUTCH HONEYSUCKLE ON WALL._]
LONICERA (Honeysuckle).--This is too well known to describe. The
Honeysuckle of the hedgerow is as familiar as the Poppy of the
cornfield. The common native Honeysuckle is _Lonicera Periclymenum_, the
best variety of which is _serotina_, or late Dutch; it flowers into the
autumn, and is of redder colouring. _Belgica_ is the Dutch Honeysuckle
and is of strong growth. _L. Caprifolium_ is not a true native, but has
become naturalised. _Major_ is a distinct variety. Then there are the
evergreen Trumpet Honeysuckles (_L. sempervirens_ and varieties, _minor_
being the best known; the flowers are scarlet and yellow).
_Plantierensis_ is a good hybrid with larger flowers. The Trumpet
Honeysuckles are not so robust and free as the late Dutch, for example.
The well-known variegated Japan Honeysuckle, _L. japonica
aureo-reticulata_, should not be planted much; its small, green,
yellow-netted leaves are pretty, but one quickly tires of their
colouring. _L. etrusca_, orange yellow, and _L. flava_, which must have
a warm place, may also be mentioned. Certain species are quite bushy in
growth. _L. tomentella_ has small pink flowers in July. _L.
fragrantissima_ blooms in winter and is a delightful wall Honeysuckle;
its small white flowers are very fragrant. _L. Standishii_ is also sweet
scented. A plant or two of either kind near the windows is very pleasant
on sunny winter days. The Honeysuckles are charming, and should be in
every garden--at least one or other of them.
MAGNOLIA.--_M. grandiflora_ (evergreen) is generally grown against a
wall. The large, glossy, green leaves and big, creamy, fragrant flowers
are very handsome. _M. conspicua_ (deciduous) I have also seen very
beautiful against a wall, a mass of white in late spring. The flowers in
this position are less likely to get damaged by frost and rain. Its
varieties may be used in the same way, but the type is the best.
OLEARIA (see p. 405).
PASSIFLORA CAERULEA.--Few climbing plants are more fascinating than the
blue Passion Flower. It is, with its bluish flowers and orange,
egg-shaped fruit, most happy against a warm wall, and is not the
hardiest of climbers. The white variety, Constance Elliot, should be
grown also.
PIPTANTHUS NEPALENSIS (Nepaul Laburnum).--This is a shrubby wall plant,
and not a very important one. Its yellow flowers remind one of those of
the Laburnum, and are borne in clusters.
[Illustration: _POLYGONUM BALDSCHUANICUM OVER FIR._]
POLYGONUM BALDSCHUANICUM.--A beautiful shrubby climber, with clouds of
white, pink-tinted flowers in summer and autumn. An illustration shows
it clambering into a Fir tree near the rock garden at Kew. I have seen
many poor forms in gardens, seedlings, and therefore to keep the true
type, it must be increased by cuttings. If frost cuts the stems down in
winter, new growths spring up in the following year. Its graceful flower
masses are useful in the house. _P. molle_ is not unlike it.
PRUNUS TRILOBA is an excellent wall shrub (see illustration).
[Illustration: _PRUNUS TRILOBA AGAINST SUNNY WALL AT KEW._]
PUNICA (Pomegranate).--Both single and double.
PYRUS.--The Pyruses are described elsewhere in this book. _P. (Cydonia)
japonica_ and its many beautiful varieties, and _P. Maulei_ are,
however, more frequently grown against walls than any other members of
the same family. _Prunus triloba_ is an excellent wall shrub.
RAPHIOLEPIS OVATA.--A very handsome plant.
ROSA (Rose) (see p. 342).
RUBUS (see p. 450).
SMILAX.--This group is not common in gardens, but is interesting. They
are a change from the repetition of a few common things. _S.
rotundifolia_ is a very handsome large-leaved Smilax with shiny foliage,
now and then met with as _S. laurifolia_ or _S. latifolia_, from which,
however, according to Mr. R. Irwin Lynch, of Cambridge, it is distinct.
All the kinds of hardy Smilax form handsome leafy creepers for walls,
but in our climate they rarely produce the rich clusters of red berries
that often render them so attractive abroad.
SOLANUM.--_S. jasminoides_ is the most popular flowering climber of the
south-west, producing its white bloom-clusters for many months in
succession. It is classed as deciduous in botanical dictionaries, but is
rarely bare of leaves, except after severe frosts in the early months of
the year. _S. crispum_ and _S. Wendlandi_ will also succeed in mild
counties; the latter has very large bluish flowers.
STAUNTONIA LATIFOLIA (syn. _Holboellia latifolia_).--This plant bears
clusters of small greenish-white, highly-fragrant flowers in March, and
often perfects seed-pods in the autumn. It is a rapid grower, and its
leathery leaves are rarely affected by frost.
STUARTIA PSEUDO-CAMELLIA.--A rare and very beautiful flowering shrub now
seldom seen in even the best of gardens. It is a native of Japan, the
flowers being ivory white and perfectly cup-shaped, somewhat like a
single White Camellia. _S. pentagyna_ comes from North America, as also
_S. virginica_, but the first-named is the finest and is worth a good
deal of trouble to grow well. Planted in loam and peat and sand at the
foot of a sunny and sheltered wall, the flowering shoots may be
preserved intact during the winter. Perfect drainage is absolutely
essential for the first-named.
TRICUSPIDARIA HEXAPETALA.--A very distinct and beautiful evergreen
shrub, perhaps better known as _Crinodendron Hookeri_. It is a native of
Chili, and grows 5 or 6 feet high, its stiff branches set with dark,
shiny ovate leaves. The flowers are nearly globular, very fleshy, and
rich crimson-red or cherry colour. In both co. Wicklow, at Mount Usher,
and at Salerno, co. Dublin, this rare shrub is very luxuriant and
beautiful. It grows well in deep, rich, moist loam or in peaty soils,
and propagates readily by layers laid down under stones.
VIBURNUM.--Some of the Viburnums are handsome against walls, such as _V.
macrocephalum_ and the Chinese _V. plicatum_.
VITIS (Vine).--The Vines are the most graceful and beautiful of all
climbers, and many of them are of glorious colour in autumn. The
Virginian Creepers (_Ampelopsis_) are now grouped with the Vines. Of the
American Vines, _Vitis aestivalis_, _V. californica_, beautiful autumn
colour; _V. cordifolia_, the Northern Fox Grape (_V. Labrusca_),
Southern Fox Grape (_V. vulpina_). The Virginian Creeper (_V.
quinquefolia_) is, as is generally known, very showy in autumn. Of the
Asiatic Vines, _V. Coignetiae_ is the most famous. It has very large
leaves, which turn to a glowing crimson in autumn. It is a noble
climber. _V. heterophylla humulifolia_ has beautiful fruit, each berry
about the size of a pea and turquoise blue; it likes a warm, sunny wall.
_V. (Ampelopsis) Veitchii_ is too well known to describe. _V. Romaneti_
and _V. vinifera_, the Common Grape Vine, also deserve notice. Of the
last-mentioned there are many beautiful varieties, such as _Purpurea_,
Miller's Burgundy, Teinturier, with claret-coloured foliage, and the
Parsley-leaved Vine. _V. Thunbergi_ has very fine leaves, which turn
crimson in autumn. The Vines should be seen in greater variety, and
Messrs. Veitch's recent beautiful novelties planted too.
[Illustration: _OLD WISTARIA AT HAMPTON COURT._]
WISTARIA.--Wistaria time is a pleasant season of the year. A few noble
examples may be seen in the suburbs of London, especially at Kew and
Hampton Court, where the trees must be a great age, while quite a fine
plant is in the Royal Gardens, Kew, also. What may be achieved with this
plant if some attention to its needs were forthcoming is not clear, for
most of the Wistarias we see from time to time shift for themselves, and
by the position they occupy must have large numbers of their roots in
dusty, dry soil. In former days it was always the custom to plant this
fine climber at the base of the dwelling-house wall, but now, with a
fuller knowledge of its robust growth, its widely-extending branches,
and equally its wide-rooting capacity, other positions may with
advantage be secured for it. One example may be seen at Kew, where a
fine plant covers a huge cage-like structure. Another good way would be
to plant it to run over pergolas, and with Clematis to succeed the
Wistaria, the effect would be distinctly good. _W. sinensis_, the
mauve-flowered species, is the one usually planted. The variety _alba_
is less robust, and does not flower so freely; it wants a warm place.
The double variety is very beautiful when in perfection, but our
experience is that it never flowers freely, and the raceme is often
poor. _W. multijuga_ has very long racemes, and is the Wistaria which
gives so much beauty to the gardens in Japan. It is always a pleasure in
Wistaria time to visit the Royal Gardens, Kew, and see the exquisitely
coloured trails of flowers on this species; these trails measure between
2 and 3 feet in length. Rosea is a rose-coloured variety.
[Illustration: _WISTARIA RACEME, SHORT, W. SINENSIS; LONG, W.
MULTIJUGA._]
FOOTNOTES:
[2] This also includes plants suitable for walls.