Philadelphus Microphyllus.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 21, 23 November 1910, Page 41

Philadelphus Microphyllus.

This pretty little mock orange is well worth planting, for its distinct appearance always attracts attention, whilst its decorative qualities are of no mean account. It is an American species, which, when mature, attains a height of three feet or so. No other Philadelphus is any tilling like it in appearance, for its branches are fine and twiggy and become interlaced with each other to form a regular thicket. The leaves are very tiny, and grey in colour, whilst the flowers are smaller than those of other kinds, but powerfully fragrant. Upwards of twenty years ago M. Lemoine, of Nancy, was struck with the possibilities

of the shrub, ami he took it in hand and crossed it with the common Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius). The progeny turned out quite a success, as is instanced 'by that plant of sterling merit Philadelphus Lemoinei, or, better still, the remarkably fine form known as Lemoinei ereetus, which is easily one of the most ornamental flowering shrubs we possess, as so well shown in the accompanying illustration of a specimen at Kew. Since the advent of these hybrids many others of the same description have appeared, which combine to make up an exceedingly useful group of shrubs. P. microphyllus, if planted in a group, should be so arranged that when fully grown no two plants will touch, for a very much better effect is produced when each plant can be seen sepalately than when several are grown together to form one dense mass. This advice applies with equal force to P. Lemoinei erectus. —“Gardeners’ Magazine.”