Beautiful Flowering Trees and Shrubs From Other Lands

Northern Advocate, 30 July 1938, Page 6 (Supplement)

Beautiful Flowering Trees and Shrubs From Other Lands

In The Garden

F I should suddenly leave I New Zealand and go to live in some far-off land, I am sure the plant I would treasure most would be a tea-tree. My gardening friends would no doubt get very tired of being toicl of the beauty of the rolling hills clothed in tea-tree in far-away New Zealand. I would, of course, have the different varieties in crimson, largk pine, double pink, double white and so on; but the gem of the collection would be just our common tea-tree. When we think how difficult it is to transplant the tea-tree from the hillside to our gardens, we can understand why so many shrubs from ofher lands are difficult to grow in our gardens. We are so anxious to treat our plants well that we often plant a shrub in rich soil, whereas in its native land, the plant may have a hard life fighting other plants for an existence on some stony hillside. Naturally the plant cannot get used to the changed conditions, and dies;

or it may grow into a bloated leafy plant, a ready victim to disease. On the other hand, many of the shrubs we treasure, are comparatively rare even in their native land, being found , perhaps, only in isolated patches, possibly in sheltered places in rich soil. When we think of the different soil anji climatic conditions that plants ; grow under, it is surprising the won- , derful variety of plants we can have. taken from different parts of the 1 world and planted in our small gar- ■ dens. It is indeed, wonderful how i accommodating so many plants are. I If all were as fastidious to change as ; our tea-tree, we would not be able ■ to grow the wonderful variety of ; plants that give us so much pleasure, i On the other hand, if I may digress ; a little, the scarlet kowhai, clianthus ; puniceus, of very restricted occurrence ’ is readily grown. Visitors to New . Zealand may be surprised at not seel ing quantities of the scarlet kowhai ; growing wild. It seems strange that

Hi is plant has shown a tendency to die out rather than to spread. A small reserve of this clianthus would make a suitable 1940 centenary planting for some district. It looks at its best on a bank so that the blooms may be seen on the pendulous branches. Some gardeners like their shrubs mixed, and you may meet a favourite from Japan alongside an Australian gem. A planting that is becoming popular is to group the plants from one country. This arrangement is interesting, but a large garden is needed. Let us now see what one might fancy from other countries. From Australia. Australia grows plants of class as well as cricketers, and incidentally the plants do not keep us up as late at night. What a number of plants we grow that belong to Australia! Space

allows us to mention a few only. Australia is the home of some gorgeous trees and shrubs, and I picture that country as being dressed in scarlet and gold on account of the gorgeous gums and the showy acacias, both of which are largely planted in New Zealand. It grows well in Whangarei, if given a moderately rich soil, good drainage and a warm situation. What could be more showy than the bright scarlet blooms of the Waratah? If you prefer charm to bold show, plant the brown boronia. I think all Australians love this plant. Although it is grown for its wonderful perfume, the small bell-shaped flowers, brown with greenish-y£llow lining have a charm for many. The boronias are not long-lived, so set your plant near the path or house, and enjoy it while you may. The boronia likes good drainage but it will not tolerate dry conditions at the roots. A mulch of leaves may be given, but lime or artificial manures should not be used. Do not forget thai. Trie which is a weed in Australia, is a useful and attractive shrub in Whangarei. The Christmas bush of Australia, ceratopetahum gummiferum has its showy crimson bracts in January or February in this district. Perhaps it realises that with all its beauty it cannot compete with our own Christmas tree, the pokutukawa. In a very warm situation you might try the chamaelancium, better known as the Geraldton wax flower, a winter flowering, waxy, glorified tea-tree like flower. Then chorizema cordata, a quaint red and yellow pea flower. Australia is truly a country for gorgeous scarlet flowering trees, and you may choose from the following erythrina corallpdendron, known as the coral tree. This and E. Christagalli will thrive in poor soil, even in sandy soil. Brachychiton, otherwise sterculia acerifolia, is well known to most people as the flame tree of Illawarra. This tree has been planted in Whangarei, and we hope to it flower here. And stenocarpus, better known as the fivewheel tree oi Queensland, should do well in New Zealand, and is said to tolerate hot or cold, provided it is protected the first few years. But I must leave Australia, though it is hard to drag oneself away from so many other shrubs and trees with scarlet and other coloured flowers, that are products of that country. From rroutTi Africa. I arn well pleased to bo talking of trees and shrubs, for when we start on the small flowers of the veldt, with their long names and their great numbers, and their gorgeous colourings, it is impossible to know where to start or when to finish. Then there are the bulbs of this country, a life-study in themselves. But we shall look to the higher country, where shrubs and trees are more plentiful. Many of our favourites come from South Africa. One of the outstanding trees is lencodendron argenteum, the well-named silver tree. It is catalogued as a coastal tree, and grows on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. The silvery foliage must look very beautiful by the sea. There were some fine specimens of this tree in Whangarei, but they ap-

pear to have died out. The calodendron capcnse or Cape chestnut is another beautiful tree that is grown in Auckland. Then, to mention the following well-known shrubs from the Cape: Proteas, leonotis leonurus, Tcccma, capensis, grcyla suthcrlandii, domboya Natalensis, buddleia salvifolia, strelitzia reginae, plumbago capensis, several varieties of gardenia, 90 species of Aloe and lufia sphaerica, so useful in the bath. From Mexico. Many beautiful plants come from Mexico. The bouvardia was introduced into England over 100 years ago. Our garden forms are hybrids. Heterocentron, Jacobinia, justitia, abutilon, ageratum, the popular poinsettia, also belong there, as also does that useful hedge plant abelia floribunda. These are only a few.

From Japan. We think of Japan as the home of the cherry blossom, wisteria, dwarf maples, and dwarf conifers; the home of - artistic floral arrangement and •btecjutiful soift colouring. Many of the shrubs that flower before the leaves belong to Japan; also others with attractive deciduous foliage and flowers. A few are enkianthus, deutzia, forsythia, kerria, camellia, daphne. I would like to have dwelt here awhile longer. In Conclusion. I must say that many of our most beautiful flowering trees and shrubs come from the hills of Western China, and from the Himalayan Mountains. This is the home of the rhododendron and azalea, which are also to be found in North America. Some of my readers may have seen the ceanothus growing in California. The hydrangea comes from America and Asia, and the jacaranda and bougainvillea are two of the many gems from Brazil.