Part 11

Of a much-branched shrubby habit, the Shrubby Cinquefoil (page 29) forms a small bush from two to four feet in height, with pinnate leaves and entire hairy oblong leaflets. A native of the Northern Hemisphere, this cinquefoil produces flat-headed inflorescences of yellow flowers throughout the summer months.

The Small-leaved Rockspray (page 30) forms a prostrate bush about three feet high, and is distinguished by the branches being densely covered by small, acute, and dark-green glossy leaves. The small, white, solitary flowers are borne in the axils of the leaves during April and May. This plant is often grown as a wall plant, in which position it is conspicuous in winter with its bright-scarlet fruits.

Simons's Cotoneaster (page 31) forms a much-branching, usually evergreen shrub about six feet high. In April, solitary, white, and sessile flowers are borne on lateral branches. Foliage angular-shaped and silky beneath. Its bright scarlet fruits are conspicuous in late autumn.

Deutzia gracilis (page 32) is a well-known Japanese shrub seen in florists' shops in early spring. It forms a compact-growing bush two feet high, producing in April terminal spikes of pretty white blossoms set amidst the small egg-shaped and narrow-pointed leaves.

The Common Mock Orange (page 33) is an erect-growing shrub, from six to ten feet high, profusely covered in May with white and strongly orange-scented flowers. The ovate-shaped leaves are said to have the odour and taste of cucumbers when crushed. A native of the South of Europe.

On page 34 is illustrated the Large-flowered Mock Orange, a shrub from the Southern United States. It differs from the Common Mock Orange in its taller growth (fully 12 feet), and in the large white blossoms, which open in midsummer, being practically scentless. The leaves also are more narrow at the point and more rounded at the base.

Philippi's Escallonia (page 35) forms a straggling bush, and in July the shoots are densely covered with panicles of small white flowers set amidst small dark-green leaves.

The Dotted Escallonia (page 36) is a much-branched evergreen bush, five to six feet high, with the shoots terminated by deep-red-coloured flowers which open in July. The common name of this plant is derived from the leaves having little dot-like swellings (glands) on the lower side of the leaves, which are sharp-pointed, ovate in form, and very glossy on the upper surface.

Early in May the Buffalo or Missouri Currant (page 37) one of the North American Currants, opens its golden-yellow flowers, which are borne in drooping clusters on short shoots arising from the main stems. It is a loosely-growing plant, about four feet high, with long-stalked, three-lobed leaves.

One of the European (British) shrubs, the Wild or Red Currant (page 38) is found in the woodlands, where its red-coloured and acid-tasted fruits are found in late summer. It throws drooping clusters of green-coloured flowers in early spring, and the three to five-angled leaves are a distinctive feature of this plant. It is from this plant that the garden forms of the Red Currant have arisen.

To those familiar with the West Coast of Scotland, the Riccarton Fuchsia (page 39) will have been noticeable to them there as forming hedges often over six feet in height. It is a handsome plant, with its shoots laden in summer and autumn with drooping red-coloured flowers.

The White-fruited Dogwood (page 40) is usually found in moist situations, and opens its flat-shaped flower-heads in May. They are succeeded in autumn by clusters of small, white-coloured, fruits. A plant that is easily recognisable by its bright-red-coloured shoots and large ovate-shaped and sharp-pointed leaves.

One of the most ornamental evergreen shrubs, the Japanese Aucuba (page 41), is grown in mostly all gardens. The leaves are pale green in colour and beautifully spotted with yellow; in form, spear-shaped, leathery to the feel, and very glossy. The flowers open in early spring, but are inconspicuous, and hidden by the foliage.

The Canadian Elder (page 42) is a plant frequently seen in shrubberies, opening its large, white-coloured flower-heads in late July, followed in autumn by clusters of purple-coloured berries. The illustration is very typical, the large flower-heads being shown among the pinnate leaves and oblong-shaped leaflets.

A native of South Europe, the Laurustinus (page 43) flowers throughout the winter, according to situation, and may be known by the flat corymbs of white flowers. It is an evergreen shrub, with shining, dark-green, and oval-shaped leaves.

In the Tomentose Guelder Rose (page 44) the flowers are barren around the margin of the truss, and open in early summer, while the leaves are flat, rounded, dark-green in colour, and very wrinkled.

The Japanese Guelder Rose (page 45) has large, rounded, barren trusses of white flowers, which open in May. It forms a spreading bush from three to four feet high.

The Snowberry (page 46) is familiar through its large, white fruits hanging on the branches most of the winter. In late summer it opens its flowers, which are borne in loose spikes at the end of the branches, and forms a loose-growing bush about four feet high.

One of the most ornamental free-flowering shrubs, the Bush Honeysuckle (page 47), produces in early summer large clusters of bell-shaped and rose-coloured flowers, set amidst light-green, ovate-shaped leaves, and attains a height of over six feet.

A native of New Zealand, the Daisy Tree is one of the most popular free-flowering shrubs. The illustration (page 48) shews the foliage completely hidden by the numerous small white and yellow-disked flowers. It is a box-like plant, and grows over six feet high. The leaves are crowded, about one inch long, dull-green colour above and whitish beneath, and acute at each end.

The New Zealand Daisy Tree (page 49) has large holly-like leaves, which are silvery on the underside, and large flower-heads, which are white, with a red centre, and open in July. Forms a loose-growing plant.

A densely-growing bush, the Prickly Heath (page 50) flowers from May to July, and the small white flowers are succeeded by berries of various colours borne in the axils of the small, dark-green, rigid, shining leaves. It rarely grows over four feet high.

The Leather-Leaf (page 51) is a sparse-growing, dwarf, evergreen shrub from North America. It flowers from April to May, the small, cylindrical-shaped, snow-white flowers being produced from the under sides of the branches. Leaves scarce, narrowed to each end, and rusty-coloured beneath.

At page 52 is illustrated the Bundle-flowered Andromeda, a shrub growing about six feet high, which flowers in April, completely covering the plant with spikes of lily-of-the-valley-like blossoms. A plant recognised by the long, egg-shaped and sharply-pointed leaves, leathery in touching, and of a very dark green colour.

The Labrador Tea (page 53) derives its common name from the leaves having been used as a substitute for tea. It grows about three feet high, of compact, rounded form, and in early May is profusely covered with trusses of white flowers set amidst narrow rusty-looking foliage.

One of the best known shrubs is Rhododendron flavum (page 54) (commonly known as Azalea pontica), and in early summer it is one of the freest-flowering plants. A plant easily known by its trusses of yellow-coloured and clammy blossoms with long protruding stamens. The large and shiny leaves are sparsely produced.

The Rusty-leaved Alpenrose (page 55) is a European plant rarely growing over three feet high, of compact growth, with shining dotted leaves. From May onwards plants are conspicuous in rock gardens with their small trusses of scarlet and yellow-dotted flowers. For a photograph on a larger scale, see Alpine Plants at Home, First Series ("Nature Book" No. 20), page 39.

Few plants are so well known as the Common or Pontic Rhododendron (page 56), and in many parts of Britain it has naturalised itself in the woodlands. It forms a tall-growing plant, frequently over 12 feet high, producing trusses of purple-coloured flowers in May, relieved by large, light-green, spear-shaped foliage.