FEW WORTH-WHILE SHRUBS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 146, 23 June 1938, Page 25

FEW WORTH-WHILE SHRUBS

It is impossible in the space available to give a comprehensive list of shrubs, but the following. are all good and suitable for the ordinary small garden:— Asclipias Curassavica.—Grows to a height of about 2ft, flowering freely while quite young. The flowers are reddish, orange yellow. Does well.in sandy soils. Azaleas.—These are low-growing shrubs of various colours, requiring the same conditions as rhododendrons, a moist, peaty soil, and partial shade for preference. Borbnia.—There are several varieties, each with merits of its own, the bestknown and most popular being the sweetly-scented Megastigma. All varieties prefer much the same conditions as heaths or azaleas, but will grow in ordinary garden soils. They are liable to attack by a small aphis in summer, but if sprayed once or twice with "Black Leaf 40" after flowering this will destroy the pests. Camellias are larger, but being slow growing may be planted without fear even in small gardens. They are well worth growing, as they are free flowering and usually commence to bloom while still quite small. The dark green, glossy foliage is very attractive. These shrubs have flowers of white, various* shades of pink, and red. There are both single and double forms. Cantua.—There are two varieties, depends with rose-coloured, trumpetshaped flowers, and "bicolour" with pale red and yellow blooms. These shrubs require a sheltered position, and should be cut hard back after flowering. Ceanothus.—These shrubs have either blue or lavender flowers, there being one variety, "Richesse," with pink flowers. These are worth growing, being amongst the few blue-flow-1 ered shrubs. Chimonanthus fragrants is a hardy, |

winter-flowering shrub, attaining a height of six feet or so. The flowers are greenish yellow, borne on the bare stems, but delightfully sweet scented. Cydonia' or Pyrus Japonica.—Hardy shrubs, deciduous bearing white, pink, or red blooms in spring. The plants are very hardy and thrive in any soil or position. Daphne Odora.—The sweet-scented daphne is too well known to need description. Plants bear flowers freely, do not require any pruning beyond sufficient to keep them within bounds. Diosma Erecoides.—This is an evergreen shrub growing to four feet high and being covered with myriads of tiny white flowers. The delightful scent of the foliage when crushed gives the name "Breath of Heaven." Exochorda grandiflora, known as the Pearl Bush, has snow-white flowers which are borne freely on young wood. This shrub grows from five to six feet, and does quite well in any ordinary garden soil. A further list will be given next week. RUSSELL LUPINS This strain of lupins is claimed to be a great advance on anything before seen in this group. They were shown in London last season, and created quite a sensation. These are said to be the finest novelty introduction of the year. They embrace many delightful colours entirely unknown in anyother strain of lupins. Among the colours are pure yellows, oranges, and rich bright crimsons. Attractive bicolours are also included. The flower spikes are firmer than those of any other strain—taller, broader, and better furnished. The florets themselves are bolder, with in many cases a distinctive flat, fanlike back standard which helps to distinguish the race. This feature becomes more pronounced in each succeeding year. Seeds may now be obtained in New Zealand.