HEDGE PLANTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21520, 17 June 1933, Page 8 (Supplement)

HEDGE PLANTS

PROFUSION OF SPECIES Hedges in connection with the garden fcnd grounds aro necessary adjuncts. They are both useful and ornamental and may be planted to form the boundary fenqo and to afford shelter from the winds, for dividing one portion of tbe garden from the other or for screens end adding to the privacy of tho garden. / Various shrubs are available for utilising, according to the soil, situation and climatic requirement, and also for the purpose for which the hedge is intended. All these considerations must be; taken into account before deciding what to plant. MIXTURE OF PLANTS Mixed hedges, composed of various shrubs and climbing plants, are a pleasing change, especially as a division hedge. Suitable species include Abelia floribunda, Polygala grandis, the different varieties of escallonias, coprosmas, Duranta plumiorii, euonymus varieties, Genista andreana, Jasminum primulinunis, Laurus nobilis, Leouotis leonurus, Lonicera japonica, Philadelphus grandiflora, Plumbago capensis, Spirnea JReevesii and Tecoma capensis. .With a few climbing roses planned here and there, indiscriminately, they make the hedgerow very effective. The abovementioned shrubs are of . permanent habit, may be clipped annually and they keep within bounds. HYDRANGEAS The strong-growing varieties of hydrangeas have become very popular for dwarf-growing front garden hedge plants. They make an attractive display when in full flower and aro no trouble to keep in order, as they require only an annual pruning. POPULAR GARDEN HEDGES The following varieties of hedge shrubs .are suitable for present planting:—Lonicera nitida, a very hardy evergreen species from China, of dense, upright growth, clips well; abelia floribunda, an exceedingly ornamental flowering, close-growing variety which flowers in the autumn and which should be pruned after it has done flowering, escallonias exoniensis, macrantha, Ingramii and rubra, very hardy, closegrowing and free-flowering; oloarias Forsterii and Traversii, quick-growing ornamental plants, very hardy and recommended for coastal planting; coprosma imiteri, a handsome evergreen plant, with bright glossy leaves, suitable for planting near the sea, withstands salt winds, and clips well; ligustrum undulatum (evergreen privet), suitable for planting near the roadside, clips well and is permanent. ' OTHER VARIETIES Variegated enonymus is a very attractive upright-growing shrub. Pittosporum'crassifolium is suitable foi either garden or breakwind hedge and well adapted for planting near the sea, as it withstands the strong sea winds. Tecoma capensis is an , exceedingly ornamental evergreen hedge plant, with dark, glossv green foliage and gorgeous orange-scarlet blossoms; it is not suitable where heavy frosts occur. Barnbus Rurca, one of the best and most ornamental of hedge plants, is of very Sense growth, quite hardy and needs but little trimming. It is best planted in the spring. When better known it lyill bo more extensively planted. ERICAS DIVERSITY OF. COLOUR Ericas are a very pretty free-flower-fng class of plants. A small collection of varieties will provide flowers almost throughout the whole year. A great diversity of colour and form of flower marks/ tho genus. Many of the old species have been leplaced by the numerous hybrid varieties now in cultivation. Few plants require more careful /cultivation than ericas. The soil most.suitable for their successful cultivation is a well-drained sandy peat, free from lime. When the soil is naturally heavy a liberal mixture of river sand will grow heaths success-; fully. No manure of any kind should be added unless it is thoroughly decomposed, and then only applied a top-dressing during tjie summer. The Cape Ericas are among the most beautiful of cool-liouse decorative plants. USEFUL VARIETIES Boweana, a fine old variety, with long tubular flowers, is scarcely ever out° of flower. The same may be said of Charlesleyana. intermedia, Henty and Mackinoniana and Webbleyana, which// are seedlings from Wilmoreana. Hyenialis and linnacoides are in flower for a long time. In spring the old yellow favourite Cavendishii, also hj'brida, the tviiest of the reds are in full flower later on; the ventricosas are perfect gems/ laden with flowers. The smallflowered • varieties, melantliera, pale mauve, and pyramidalis gracilis, pure, are laden with small bell-shaped flowers. Wilmoreana is a favourite win-ter-flowering hardy variety. Vernix •coccinea, a most beautiful heath now in full flower, bears waxy orange berrylike flowers. Ericas should be planted in beds or borders specially prepared and dovoted to their cultivation. - l. ■;