CHAPTER XVIII. Trees and Shrubs for Waterside

TREES AND SHRUBS FOR WATERSIDE

Many of the brightest garden pictures at the present day are by the well-planted pond or lakeside, where shrubs of large growth are grouped to give colour through summer and winter.

The wild plants of the riverside are in themselves for the most part large of stature and important of appearance. When one sees the upright growth and large leaves of the Great Water Dock (Rumex) and the broad round ones (2 feet or more across) of the Butter-Bur (Petasites), and the beds of the Common Reed (Phragmites), 8 to 10 feet high, with its great brown-black plumes, and the curious bright-green Horsetail (Equisetum), and the rosy banks of Willow-herb and Loose-strife, and the calm wide breadths of the white Water Lily in the still backwaters; when we see all these lessons that Nature teaches by the riverside we perceive that for the best of good effect of waterside gardening we need not be afraid of planting things of bold growth largely.

When we come to garden plants there are many families that are never so happy as when close to water, or in soil that always feels the cool, moistening influence of water within a few feet below them. Such are the whole range of the larger herbaceous Spiræas, some of them plants of great size. Then we have the Thalictrums, the autumn-flowering Phloxes, the stately Heracleum; Telekia, Bamboos, Arundo Donax, the Swamp and Meadow Lilies of the northern states of America; and coming to smaller though scarcely less important plants, the Scarlet Lobelias, Oriental Poppies, many Irises, the Michaelmas Daisies, and Day Lilies; all these thrive by the waterside.

There are many shrubs that prefer a moist place, such as the Guelder Rose and the beautiful North American Halesia, Quinces, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and Kalmias, while the lovely Fritillaries, Globe-flowers, and the double Cuckoo-flowers love damp grassy spaces. We think we may safely advise those who are making gardens by river or lake to go forward and plant with confidence, only selecting such things as are mentioned below.

As the things named are described elsewhere in this book a list only is given.

TREES AND SHRUBS FOR SWAMPY PLACES

Willows (Salix) in great variety: S. alba (White Willow), S. babylonica (Babylonian Weeping Willow), S. purpurea, S. p. pendula (American Weeping Willow), S. Caprea, S. C. pendula, the fine Kilmarnock Willow, Cardinal Willow and Golden Willow--both these are very beautiful in winter; the stems of the former are crimson, and of the latter golden yellow, and make a remarkable picture of intense colouring; plant them in large groups--S. daphnoides (the White-stemmed Willow), S. fragilis (Crack Willow), S. f. basfordiana (Red-barked Willow), and S. hippophaifolia (Sea Buckthorn-leaved Willow).

Populus alba (White Poplar), P. deltoidea (Canadian Poplar), P. nigra (Black Poplar), Lombardy Poplar, and P. tremula (the Aspen). But the Poplars must not be overdone, and by pond or lakeside are often out of place. In such places the Cardinal and Yellow-barked Willow, Sea Buckthorn, and similar shrubs are more appropriate.

Common Alder, with its many varieties--Cut-leaved, the Golden-leaved, and such as Alnus incana and A. serrulata.

Taxodium distichum (Deciduous Cypress); tender green in spring and brownish red in autumn, when the leaves change colour.

Hippophaë rhamnoides (the Sea Buckthorn).

TREES AND SHRUBS FOR MOIST (BUT NOT SWAMPY) SOIL

Berberis Darwinii (Darwin's Barberry), B. Thunbergi (for its beautiful autumn leaf-colouring), Birch, Dogwoods, Cornus alba and varieties; the variety sibirica has brilliant-red stems. Cotoneaster buxifolia, C. frigida, C. Nummularia, C. Simonsii; Ash, Myrica Gale (Sweet Gale) and M. asplenifolia; Ledum palustre, Nyssa sylvatica (Tupelo tree), Mountain Ash, Quercus aquatica (Water Oak), Q. palustris (Swamp Oak); Rhamnus Frangula (Buckthorn). Roses with brightly-coloured hips--Rubus biflorus (White-stemmed Bramble), R. fruticosus fl. pl. (Double Pink Bramble). R. laciniatus (Cut-leaved Bramble), R. spectabilis (Salmon Berry). Sambucus racemosa (Red-berried Elder), Spiræa Douglasii, S. hypericifolia, S. lindleyana; Tamarisk. Viburnum Opulus (Guelder Rose); when this native shrub is weighed down with the rich red berry-clusters, it is a remarkable colour picture, and the autumn leaf tints add to its beauty.

Of Conifers, mention may be made of Tsuga canadensis, Picea sitchensis, Cupressus thyoides, and Thuya gigantea.

Bamboos: Select those of robust growth, such as Arundinaria japonica (Bambusa Metake), A. Simoni, A. Veitchii, and A. palmata; Phyllostachys viridi-glaucescens and P. mitis.