THE HOME GARDEN

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 27 June 1935, Page 12

THE HOME GARDEN

SELECTING TREES AND SHRUBS WEALTH OP SUBJECTS VALUE OF NATIVE SPECIES (Bv “Salvia.”) The amateur garden often has some small space available for the planting of dwarf trees and shrubs. Sometimes it is an unsightly corner, at others a bare patch unsuitable, because of its small size, for inclusion m the garden scheme. How much better it is to plant these places with some suitable shrub than to allow a palpable eyesore to remain. Attei an exhaustive examination of the wealth of New Zealand flora available for 1 every class of garden, whether it be the laying out of a real shrubbery or merely the planting of vacant places in the small garden, ono wonders why imported trees and shrubs need be planted at all. Some of the better suited indigenous trees and shrubs for your garden are given below. For South Taranaki conditions the halt hardy, hardy and very hardy species ■ are recommended and for which a - breviations usee) below are H.H., H. and V.H. respectively. Where known the native name is given in brackets. Ackama rosaefolia (Alakamaka). An attractive small spreading tree suitable as specimens or for shrubberies in the milder localities. H.H., height 12 feet. Alseuosmia macrophylla (Ivarapapa). A very beautiful and exceedingly flagrant evergreen shrub. The flowers are bright crimson in loose clusters, followed by crimson berries. It requires a moist, shady situation. H, height 6 feet. Ascarina lucida (Hutu). A closelybranched shrub with purplish-red foliage. Reputed to have medicinal value in connection with chest complaints. H.H., heigh 12 feet. Bracyglottis rangiora (Rangiora). A

quick-growing shrub with large leath- j ery leaves, glossy green above and white beneath. Suitable for windy positions. H.H., height 12 feet. Another variety is the Rangiora purpurea which is purple-foliaged. This is a tender variety ancl must be protected from frosts. Carmichaelia australis (Makaka). Aji erect leafless' shrub of the broom family with thin flat branches. The flowers are small, pale purple, in small racemes. H.H., height 6 feet. Cassinia fulvida. An extremely hardy shrub with tawny-coloured leaves and white flowers, rather effective. V.H., height 4 feet. Clianthus puncieus (Kowhai-ngutu-kaka). A much-branched spreading shrub, of good habit and appearance, j The large bright-scarlet flowers, borne in pendulous racemes, are very effective. This is a universal favourite and is commonly known as Parrot’s Beak and Red Kowhai. H.H., height 6 feet. Another type is the whiteflowered variety, Puniceus Albus, whilst yet another is Puniceus Roseus, the flowers of which are pink, or rosepink, borne in dense masses. The latter is new and uncommon and does not revert. Baueri (Taupata). A compact-grow-ing shrub with dark-green shining leaves, very hardy on the sea coast and splendid for hedges. H.H., height 10 feet. There is also a variegated form of this shrub with dwarflike habit and somewhat pendulous, height 6 feet. Griselinia littoralis (variously called Kapuka, Papaumu and Broadleaf). An extremely hardy shrub or tree with bright, glossy foliage. Ornamental and also valuable for ,shelter purposes. V.H., height 12 feet. There is also a prettily variegated form, the foliage beng mottled with creamy-white. H.H., height, 8 feet. Hoberia populnea (Houhere). A species of laeebark and a most beautiful tree with fine foliage, covered in autumn with a sheet of white, starry flowers, often concealing the leaves. H., height 12 feet. There are some twelve varieties of this species, many of which have been recently introduced into cultivation. All bear white flowers. Leptosperinum. This is the genus Manuka and many fine hybrid varieties with different coloured flowering are now to be obtained. Height varies from three to fifteen feet according to the variety selected. A recently introduced species is the Keatleyii, a new winter-flowering hybrid with large pink flowers shading to paler tints towards the edge. It is quite hardy and grows to a height from 4 to 0 feet.

Melicytus laneeolatus (Mahoewao). A slender shrub with brownish bark and finely serrated leaves. The small flowers precede small blue-black berries. V.H., height 10 feet. Myrtus bullata (Ramarama). A striking evergreen shrub with reddishbrown leaves, intermingled in season ivith beautiful, starry, creamy-white floAvers. The berries are dark red. H.H., height 10 feet. There are numerous hyrid variations of the genus Myrtus (N.Z. Myrtle) besides three other species, pedunoulata, ralpliii and obeordata.

Olearia. This genus is noted for hardiness and ease of cultivation and includes varieties suitable for shelter and ornament. It is specially noted for its showy daisy-like flowers. V.H., height from 4 to 15 feet. Personia toru (Toru). A smallgrowing tree with striking foliage, sometimes brownish, hears scented yellowish-brown flowers. H., height 10 feet. Phebalium nudum (Mairehou). A graceful, branching, slender shrub with highly scented foliage and flowers which are white and highly aromatic. H.H., height 8 feet. Pittosporum. This genus includes the Wharewhareatua, Karo, Tarata, Kahuhu and Haratoanga, all of which are very effective and vary in height from 4to 20 feet. Pittosporum tenuifolium (Kohuhu), a small tree with bark and flowers almost black and green foliage: is splendid for hedges. Podocarpus. The genus, which includes Kahikatea, Miro, Totara and Matai. The species nivalis (alpine Totara) is an excellent conifer for the rockery. H. and V.H. Pomaderris The species elliptica is an almost indispensable shrub having masses of golden-yellow bloom in spring and it flowers quite young. H.H., height 5 feet. Khabdothamus solandri (Taurepo). This is an uncommon shrub of slender habit and produces orange-red flowers almost continuously. Succeeds best in shade. H.H., height 4 feet. Ifhapalostylis sapida (Nikau).' An elegant palm which prefers a shady situation, but will succeed in almost any position if well sheltered. H.H., height 15 feet. Senecio. This genus of which the kirkii (Tupairu), perdicoides (Raukubara) and rotundifolius (Pauretaiko) i are species which provide some of our best native yellow-flowering shrubs. Huntii is a handsome specimen. Y.H., height 12 feet. Sideroxylon novo-zelondicum (Tawapou). An uncommon shrub suitable for coastal planting where it is most successful. H., height 15 feet.

Solanum aviculare grandiflora. A quick-growing, soft-wooded plant with edible yellow fruit. Tender and will survive only light frosts. Height b to 10 feet. Sophara. This genus embraces the well-known Itowliai (Edward si a tetraphera), a handsome upright tree of graceful habit, bearing racemes of large golden-yellow flowers. V.H., height 15 feet. Another species—prostrata is a dense branchy dwarf shrub which bears bright yellow' flowers. Suitable for the rockery. Y.H., height 3 to 5 feet. • Weinmannia racemosa (Towai). Compact distinct foliage, smothered in January with short racemes of white to pale rose flowers. V.H., height 20 feet. REMINDERS Plant shelter trees, hedge plants, fruit trees, ornamental shrubs and roses. Prune all fruit trees and bushes except lemon and orange; spray for insect and fungoid pests, using winter strength solutions Plant rhubarb roots in well-manured soil. Plant out strawberry plants. Lift, divide and replant old clumps of primroses and polyanthus. Sow broad beansSow under glass cabbage, cauliflower. cress, mustard and radishes. Prepare beds for asparagus and seakale. Plant shallots nine inches apart in rows IS inches apart.