Winter Flowerins Shrubs

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30145, 31 May 1963, Page 6

Winter Flowerins Shrubs

Many shrubs that flower in winter have

flowers with subdued colours that lack the brilliancy of those that are produced ! ater in the season. This

lack of colour, however, is often compensated for by a fragrant scent.

Hamamellis mollis. Chinese Witch Hazel, makes a large spreading bush of up to 10 feet in height and is deciduous. It thrives best in a limefree soil that is well drained and does not dry out in summer. Tie fragrant flowers are yellow and curiously spider like and are produced freeiy throughout the winter. They are unaffected by the coldest weather.

Garrya eiliptica. catkin or tassel bush, makes a large evergreen bush which can reach 12 feet in height. It seems indifferent to position tolerating shade as well as full sun but it requires a -soil which does not dry out. It produces catkins which can reach 12 inches in length and these are produced throughout the winter Viburnum fragrans makes a rather scraggy upright bush about six feet in height. It seems to be indifferent to position or soil and may flower continuously or in flushes throughout the winter It first produces it* white flowers flushed with pink. These are delicately scented soon after the leaves fall.

Chimonanthus fragrans (synonymus C. praecox). wintersweet, is a well-known deciduous winter-flowering shrub that may reach eight feet in height. Its pale yellowflowers have a red eye and are produced very freely over a long period, unaffected by cold. Indifferent to soil or position it is often planted close to the house where all can enjoy its pleasant perfume. Young plants! may take a while to settle down before flowering freely Acacia baileyana, Cootamundra wattle, is a small evergreen tree about 15 feet] tn height which has blue- ■ grey leaves. It likes a well- j drained position in full sun.! Flowers are produced in such great profusion that the leaves and branches of the | tree seem to disappear and j may last from the end of ! June until late August. It is i not a long-lived tree. Euphorbia wulfenii likes a hot dry, well-drained position. although it witl also tolerate shade. It makes a ompact bush about three feet in height and the closelypacked stems are clothed with blue-green leaves The yellow-green flowers are produced in profusion from the ends of the stems for a long period Chaenomeles iagenana. iapontca. is a deciduous shrub of rather loose habit It can be grown as a bush which will vary flrom three to six feet according to

variety; as a hedge; or trained against a wall or fence. Although indifferent to soil it likes a sunny position. Colour of flowers is rather more brilliant than some of the other winter flowering shrubs, and range from white through every shade of pink and red to an intense crimson. Its flowers are followed by ornamental fruits that are intensely fragrant Stachyurus praecox has red branches and may reach six feet in height. It likes a deep soil and will tolerate any position in the garden that does not dry out in

summer. It carries pendant bunches of waxy lemon, bellshaped flowers. Flowering usually begins in July. Coleonema pulchrum, pink breath of heaven, may be slightly frost tender in cold districts. A good cutting plant with light green foliage and pink flowers that are produced in profusion during late winter and spring. It requires a welldrained soil arid a warm position in full sun. About three feet in height, it makes a compact bush and if not used for cutting, needs pruning after flowering to keep it in shape.