GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 254, 10 July 1926, Page 26

GARDEN NOTES

(By

“Kowhai.”)

SHRUBS THAT COLOUR IN THE AUTUMN. When planting trees or shrubs for the purpose of providing brilliant colour in the grounds during autumn, care should be taken to plant them in rather poor soil, for bushes growing in rich soil do not colour so well. The red oak (Qucrcus rubra) and the scarlet oak (Quercus coccittea) are brilliant in the autumn, but as the trees, when full grown, attain a height of fifty feet, they are only possible for large gardens. Liquidamber is another tree that grows to a good height, and its foliage is exquisite iu the autumn. Among the Japanese maples may be found some for small as well ns largo gardens. Acer japonica grows only about three feet, while acer palmatuni grows six feet. Both of these are possible for small gardens, and their beautiful foliage. is glorious among chrysanthemums and Michaelmas daisies. Another good maple is acer ginnala, with small leaves. The sumachs, rhus cotinus and rhus succedanea, may be grown in large, as well as small gardens. Rhus cotinus, in addition to colouring brilliantly in the autumn, bears, during .summer, most curious-looking heads of fruit. These are not unlike the fluffy seed pods of our native clematis but the colour is heliotrope tinged with green. Among viburnums, the Guelder rose (viburnum opulus) is well known. The foliage assumes wonderful tints during autumn, and the shrub is very hardy. Viburnum Carlcsii, and v. lantana versicolour are not well known yet, but are sure to be popular once, they they are. V. Carlesii may be grown in small gardens. It bears fragrant pink flowers in spring. Euonynnis curopeus is a small shrub that colours well in the autumn. It bears, too, pretty red berries. The flowering forms of plum, cherry, peach, apple, and almond colour gloriously in the autumn. Pears, persimmons, and medlars also colour hrilliantlv, and deserve a place in the shrubbery. Berben’s thunbergii is suitable for banks or rockeries, for the growth is low and spreading. The small leaves colour vividly in the autumn. Several plants should be massed to give a really good effect with this barberry. PROSTR ANTH ERAS. One of the most useful of shrubs far a light, sandy soil is the Australian mint, prostranthera violacea. The shrub grows to a height of about eight feet, and Io get the best effect several plants should be massed, especially whore they have a background of evergreen shrubs. The flowers are so freely produced that tho bushes become a mass of bloom. As prostrantheras stand a fair amount of wind they are suitable for exposed gardens. Prostranthera lasianthos is one of the best, for the flowers are larger. In colour they are pinkish white with purple spots, but the general effect of the bush when it is covered with its flowers is rather a nice shade of mauve. The pure white prostranthera, nivea, - is also worth growing. A new variety, P. ovalifolia, with pinkish mauve flowers, is charming. Prostrantheras arc propagated from cuttings of half-ripe wood. These should be planted firmly in damp sand, anil should be placed, if possible, in a frame to strike. The soil for prostrantheras should be fairly light; therefore, heavy soils should be lightened with well-de-cayed manure or garden rubbish and sand. The soil should be dug two feet deep if possible. PHOETINIA. Phoetinias are hardy evergreen shrubs with beautiful leaves. Phoetinia semilata grows to about fifteen feet, and makes a line background for such shrubs as deciduous azaleas, forsythias, brooms and flowering plums. Phoetinia vellosa is also a hardy evergreen shrub, and in the spring the young leaves are bright red. Both have white flowers, but it is the beautiful foliage that makes phoetinias so attractive. ROMNEYAS. Ronmeya coulteri, tho Californian poppy, is one of our most handsome shrubs, for tlie flowers are like enormous white poppies with a mass of golden yellow stamens. Once it becomes established the plant makes rapid growth. Some people have difficulty in establishing it, especially if they cannot give it a position where it gets plenty of summer heat. It is therefore a comfort to know that there is now another variety of these glorious tree poppies that flowers morn freely and is in every way an improvement on the older variety. This is ronincya trichocalyx. A light warm soil suits romneyas well. They do not mind if they have not much sun during winter, but in spring and summer they seem to delight in hot soil provided that sufficient water is given to them at intervals. The roofs resent disturbance, and therefore newlyplanted shrubs need shelter and moisture till they are established. AUCUBA JAPONICA. Gardeners are often puzzled to know what to plant under the shade of trees, and for such a position aucuba japonica is useful. Being evergreen, with bright glossy leaves, it is always attractive. The flowers arc so small as to be scarcely noticed, but they are followed by showy red berries. The variety with variegated leaves is even more attractive, especially when it is being used to fill spaces under trees or dark corners where nothing else will grow. The plants may be propagated from cuttings, or branches may bo layered. SUTHERBANDIA FRUTESCEUS (Duck Plant). This is a small shrub not unlike a red kowhai, for it becomes covered with numbers of red cliantbus-liko flowers. Tho flowers are followed by quaint pods, pinkish red in colour, and in shape resembling miniature ducks. Both the flowers and the bladder-like pods are atlikes a' well-drained, light, loaiuv soil, and is suitable for small as well as large gardens.