Wistaria
WISTARIA CHINENSIS (_syns W. sinensis, Glycine chinensis_, and _G.
sinensis_).--Chinese Wistaria. China, 1816. This is the only species at
all common in gardens, and by far the handsomest in cultivation. It
justly ranks amongst the most beautiful of hardy climbing shrubs, and is
invaluable as a wall plant, or for clothing the bare stems of sparsely
foliaged trees. The purplish-lilac flowers are produced in long,
droopi
flowers; W. chinensis flore-pleno has not proved very satisfactory, but
when seen at its best, which is, however, but rarely, the double flowers
are both beautiful and showy; W. chinensis variegata has badly
variegated foliage; and W. chinensis macrobotrys is a plant of great
beauty with very long racemes of pale lavender flowers, but they vary a
good deal in colour, those of some plants being almost white. It is a
very desirable variety, and one that when better known is sure to
attract attention.
W. FRUTESCENS (_syns Glycine frutescens_ and _Thyrsanthus
frutescens_).--North America, 1724. This is a very handsome deciduous
climbing species from North America. The flowers, which appear towards
autumn, are bluish purple and fragrant, and borne in erect racemes. It
is quite hardy and equally suitable with the Chinese species for using
as a wall covering. W. frutescens magnifica is an improved form of the
species.
W. JAPONICA.--Japan. A bush-like species bearing white flowers, but it
is rarely seen in cultivation. It is, however, quite hardy, and succeeds
well in the bush state at Kew.
W. MULTIJUGA.--Japan, 1874. Resembles somewhat our commonly-cultivated
species, and has pale purple flowers arranged in long racemes. It is a
very ornamental and desirable species, but the flowers are not borne in
great quantity.
The Wistarias are of simple culture, but succeed best in rather rich
alluvial soil, and where protection from cold winds is provided.
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Rosmarinus
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SOLANUM CRISPUM.--Potato-tree. A native of Chili, 1824, and not very hardy, except in the coast regions of England and Ireland. It grows stout and bushy, often in favoured places rising to the height of 12 feet, and has large clusters of purple-blue... Sophora
SOPHORA JAPONICA (_syn Styphnolobium japonicum_).--Chinese or Japanese Pagoda-tree. China and Japan, 1763. A large deciduous tree, with elegant pinnate foliage, and clusters of greenish-white flowers produced in September. Leaves dark-green, and com... Spartium
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SPIRAEA BELLA.--Pretty-flowered Spiraea. Himalayas, 1820. The reddish stems of this rather tall-growing species are of interest, and render the plant distinct. Leaves ovate, acute, and serrated, and tomentose beneath. Flowers in spreading corymbs of... Staphylea
STAPHYLEA COLCHICA.--Colchican Bladder Nut. Caucasus. This is a very distinct shrub, about 6 feet high, with large clusters of showy white flowers. Being quite hardy, and very ornamental, this species is worthy the attention of planters. S. PINNA... Stauntonia
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STUARTIA PENTAGYNA (_syn Malachodendron ovatum_).--North America, 1785. This differs only from the S. virginica in having five distinct styles, hence the name. Under very favourable circumstances this is the taller growing species, and the leaves an... Styrax
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SYMPLOCOS JAPONICA (_syn S. lucida_).--A small growing and not very desirable species from Japan (1850). S. TINCTORIA.--Sweet-leaf, or Horse Sugar. South United States, 1780. This is a small-growing shrub, with clusters of fragrant yellow flowers,... Syringa
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TILIA VULGARIS (_syns T. europea_ and _T. intermedia_).--Lime, or Linden Tree. Europe, Caucasus, and naturalised in Britain. Probably none of the Limes would be included in a list of ornamental-flowering trees and shrubs, still that they are of grea... Ulex
ULEX EUROPAEUS.--Furze, Gorse, or Whin. This pretty native shrub needs no description, suffice it to say that it is one of the handsomest-flowering shrubs in cultivation. U. europaeus flore-pleno (Double-flowered Gorse) is even more beautiful than t... Vaccinium
VACCINIUM CORYMBOSUM.--Canada to Carolina and Georgia, 1765. This is one of the most beautiful and showy species, with dense clusters of small, pinky flowers. V. MYRTILLUS.--Whortleberry, Bilberry, Blackberry, and Blueberry. A native plant, with ... Veronica
VERONICA PINQUIFOLIA.--New Zealand, 1870. This is one of the hardiest species, but it is of low growth, and only suitable for alpine gardening. It is a dwarf spreading shrub, with intensely glaucous leaves and white flowers. V. TRAVERSII.--New Ze... Viburnum
VIBURNUM ACERIFOLIUM.--Dockmackie. New England to Carolina, 1736. This is one of the handsomest members of the family, being of slender growth and compact and neat in habit. It grows to fully 4 feet in height, and is well supplied with neatly three-... Vinca
VINCA MAJOR.--Band-plant, Cut-finger, and Larger Periwinkle. Europe (Britain). For trailing over tree-stumps or rockwork this pretty evergreen shrub has a distinctive value, the bright green leaves and showy deep blue flowers rendering it both consp... Vitex
VITEX AGNUS-CASTUS.--Chaste Tree, Hemp Tree, and Monk's Pepper-tree. A South European shrub (1670), growing from 6 feet to 10 feet high, with digitate leaves that are almost hoary beneath, and spikes of small violet flowers. It is not very hardy, al... Vitis
VITIS HETEROPHYLLA HUMILIFOLIA.--Turquoise-berried Vine. North China and Japan, 1868. The leaves of this Vine are three to five lobed, and the small flowers freely produced in slightly branching cymes. The latter are succeeded by their most interest... Wistaria
WISTARIA CHINENSIS (_syns W. sinensis, Glycine chinensis_, and _G. sinensis_).--Chinese Wistaria. China, 1816. This is the only species at all common in gardens, and by far the handsomest in cultivation. It justly ranks amongst the most beautiful of... Xanthoceras
XANTHOCERAS SORBIFOLIA.--China, 1870. An extremely pretty flowered and handsome leaved shrub, but owing to its late introduction is not yet well known. So far it has proved itself perfectly hardy in this country, there being specimens at wide distan... Xanthorhiza
XANTHORHIZA APIIFOLIA.--Yellow-root. Pennsylvania, 1776. A small growing shrub, with yellow creeping roots, from which suckers are thrown up profusely. The leaves are irregularly pinnate, and the minute flowers, which are borne in large, branching s... Yucca
YUCCA FILAMENTOSA.--Silk Grass. North America, 1675. A well-known and beautiful plant, with numerous leaves arranged in a dense rosette, and from 1 foot to 2 feet long by 2 inches broad. Flower scape rising to 5 feet or 6 feet in height, and bearing... Zauschneria
ZAUSCHNERIA CALIFORNICA.--Californian Fuchsia, or Humming Birds' Trumpet. California and Mexico, 1847. A small-growing, densely-branched shrub, with linear-lanceolate silvery pubescent leaves, and bright red or scarlet tubular flowers, with a long, ... Zelkova
ZELKOVA ACUMINATA (_syns Z. japonica_ and _Planera acuminata_).--Japan. This resembles very nearly our common Elm in appearance, and being perfectly hardy is to be recommended for planting in this country. Z. CRENATA (_syns Planera crenata_ and _P...