Our Flowering Shrubs Part 1

Our Flowering Shrubs.

by Anonymous.

Some Short Notes

DESIGNED TO a.s.sIST THE READER IN IDENTIFYING THE SHRUBS ILl.u.s.tRATED IN THIS VOLUME.

BY

WILLIAM SMITH

The study of shrubs has greatly increased during recent years, and this has no doubt been brought about by the increasing knowledge of nature study now commonly included in the curriculum of schools and other establishments, and while shrubs have not as yet received the same attention as trees yet they offer quite as interesting a field, while the beauty of certain of the species arrests the attention of even the most casual observer.

The term "shrub" means a low, woody-stemmed perennial, but many of the species attain the dimensions of a fair-sized tree.

The Holly-leaved Barberry or Mahonia (frontispiece), a North American shrub, is commonly met with either planted as an undergrowth to deciduous trees or as a covert plant in woodlands. It is easily recognised from the leaflets being in two or three pairs, with an odd one at top, in colour of a glossy dark-green, and the leaves of a leathery nature. The flowers are borne in much-crowded, erect racemes which open in early spring, followed later by cl.u.s.ters of purple berries.

Darwin's Barberry (page 6) is a densely-branched, spreading evergreen bush about 8 feet high, with numerous racemose flowers which open in May, succeeded by purple berries throughout the summer. Leaves are about one inch long, oval-shaped, with five spiny teeth. A near ally to the preceding is the Narrow-leaved Barberry (page 7). It forms a shrub of rare beauty; with slender arching shoots which in early spring are densely covered with golden blossoms. May be known by the narrow sharp-pointed leaves.

A British shrub, the Common Barberry (page 8) usually inhabits dry stony soils, and forms a tall shrub about 10 feet high. In early spring the plant is profusely covered with pendulous racemes of yellow flowers, and later by the scarlet berries which are sometimes used for preserves.

Distinguished by the egg-shaped leaves and three-parted spines at the axils of the leaves. A photograph showing the flowers on a larger scale will be found on page 11 of _Wild Flowers at Home, Fourth Series_ ("Nature Book," No. 16).

The Laurel-leaved Cistus (page 9) is a native of the South of Europe, and grows over four feet high. The flowers, resembling in appearance those of the dog-rose, are borne on terminal flower-stalks four and five together, but are very ephemeral in character. The ovate spear-shaped leaves are generally covered with a gummy substance. Flowers during July and August.

Pallas's Tamarisk (page 10) is one of the shrubs which thrive in bleak exposed places and in dry sandy soils. The leaves are of a minute scale-like character, and from May onwards the long, terminal spikes of rosy-pink flowers are an attractive feature.

A hardy evergreen, shrubby plant, the Common Rue (page 11) is well known as a medicinal plant. The leaves are nearly blue and emit a very unpleasant smell and have a bitter taste. Flowers are produced in late summer.

One of the most fragrant shrubs, the Mexican Orange-Flower (page 12), forms a large glossy-leaved bush with axillary stalks of white flowers which, from their appearance and fragrance, resemble orange-blossom. The flowers open in summer, and the leaves are bright-green, long-stalked, with three leaflets to each.

The Hop Tree or Shrubby Trefoil (page 13), flowers from May to July and produces flat-headed inflorescences of a greenish yellow colour, succeeded in autumn by bunches of flat fruits of a greenish colour. As the specific name suggests the leaves are in threes, long-stalked, of an elliptical shape, and terminate in a sharp point. Reaches a height of 8 feet.

Generally grown as a wall-plant, the Blue Mountain Sweet (page 14) flowers freely in that position during July and August. The alternate leaves are oblong, sharply-serrated, and downy. From the axils of the leaves spring the elongated spikes of pale blue flowers. A native of Mexico.

The Veitch's Mountain Sweet (page 15) is another plant grown as a wall-shrub, where it often attains a height of 12 feet, and is a most conspicuous plant during its flowering period from May to July when it is literally covered by dense cl.u.s.ters of bright blue flowers relieved by neat, elliptical dark-green leaves.

Dyers' Greenweed (page 16), so-called from the plant yielding a yellow dye, is found wild as a native plant in certain parts of Britain, and flowers most of the summer. The yellow flowers are produced on spicate racemes, while the leaves are alternate, smooth and spear-shaped. An erect-growing plant about two feet in height.

The Yellow Spanish Broom (page 17) is a plant which delights in a dry sandy loam, and is capable of resisting long periods of drought. This species is a hardy deciduous shrub with rush-like and nearly leafless branches, and attains a height of six feet. From July to September its spikes of fragrant golden-yellow blossoms are particularly attractive.

One of the European species, the Capitate Broom (page 18) forms a shrub over two feet high and opens its flowers from June onwards. The leaflets are egg-shaped, and the whole plant is covered with loose, soft hair.

Gerard's Indigo (page 19), a native of India, is one of the most beautiful of the Leguminosae shrubs and is a low branching species.

Leaves pinnate and of a pale grey-green colour. Flowers open from July onwards and are borne in many-flowered spikes.

A native of Europe, the Bladder Senna (page 20) is one of the few plants that thrive in dry sandy soils. It forms a hardy, deciduous, free-growing shrub 10 feet high, bearing stalks of yellow pea-shaped flowers from July to September. The pinnate leaves are prettily divided into ovate and flat-shaped leaflets. A distinctive feature of this plant in the autumn is the large inflated seed-pods.

A popular and well-known evergreen shrub, the Portugal Laurel (page 21) forms a large spreading bush from 10 to over 20 feet in height. The ovate and lanceolate-shaped leaves are of a dense dark-green, and in June the large erect spikes of white flowers are very striking. In autumn the egg-shaped and dull-red coloured fruits are a noticeable feature.

Douglas's Spiraea (page 22) forms a crowded cl.u.s.ter of erect shoots about 6 feet high, and in August the dense terminal spikes of rosy-red flowers open. Leaves acute, rounded, and downy beneath.

_Spiraea j.a.ponica_ (page 23) forms a bush 3 to 6 feet high with much branched shoots terminating in brightly coloured flat flower-heads which open from July onwards, and are relieved by the small spear-shaped, abrupt-pointed, and finely-serrated leaves.

A native of Nepaul, the Vine-leaved Neillia (page 24) is frequently seen in shrubberies, forming a hardy branching bush about five feet high, the shoots bearing spikes of white flowers in June. A distinctive feature of this plant is the heart-shaped, three-lobed, and serrated leaves.

The Jew's Mallow (page 25) is one of the favourite plants commonly grown on cottage walls, and the ill.u.s.tration shows the double-flowering form with the solitary, terminal stalks of flowers, which open in early summer. The foliage is glabrous, spear-shaped and finely-toothed on the margins.

Few shrubs when in flower are capable of arresting attention so much as the Rocky Mountain Bramble (page 26). In May the large, single, white, rose-like flowers are a beautiful feature of this bramble, which attains a height of five feet. The kidney-shaped leaves are three to five-lobed and finely-toothed. A native of North America, where this plant is said to produce large fruits of delicious flavour.

The Cut-leaved Bramble (page 27) is frequently seen in a wild state, and is known by its finely-cut leaves. Of a pinkish-white colour, the flowers are borne in loose spikes from June to September, whilst fruit can be picked during the latter month. It is a robust climbing plant, and the wood is very p.r.i.c.kly.

The Nutka Sound Raspberry (page 28) is one of the species that send up annual shoots attaining to a height of two feet, on which are borne the large ornamental five-lobed leaves. The large, handsome white flowers open in June, and the large, conical-shaped, red fruits ripen early in autumn.

Of a much-branched shrubby habit, the Shrubby Cinquefoil (page 29) forms a small bush from two to four feet in height, with pinnate leaves and entire hairy oblong leaflets. A native of the Northern Hemisphere, this cinquefoil produces flat-headed inflorescences of yellow flowers throughout the summer months.

The Small-leaved Rockspray (page 30) forms a prostrate bush about three feet high, and is distinguished by the branches being densely covered by small, acute, and dark-green glossy leaves. The small, white, solitary flowers are borne in the axils of the leaves during April and May. This plant is often grown as a wall plant, in which position it is conspicuous in winter with its bright-scarlet fruits.

Simons's Cotoneaster (page 31) forms a much-branching, usually evergreen shrub about six feet high. In April, solitary, white, and sessile flowers are borne on lateral branches. Foliage angular-shaped and silky beneath. Its bright scarlet fruits are conspicuous in late autumn.

_Deutzia gracilis_ (page 32) is a well-known j.a.panese shrub seen in florists' shops in early spring. It forms a compact-growing bush two feet high, producing in April terminal spikes of pretty white blossoms set amidst the small egg-shaped and narrow-pointed leaves.

The Common Mock Orange (page 33) is an erect-growing shrub, from six to ten feet high, profusely covered in May with white and strongly orange-scented flowers. The ovate-shaped leaves are said to have the odour and taste of cuc.u.mbers when crushed. A native of the South of Europe.

On page 34 is ill.u.s.trated the Large-flowered Mock Orange, a shrub from the Southern United States. It differs from the Common Mock Orange in its taller growth (fully 12 feet), and in the large white blossoms, which open in midsummer, being practically scentless. The leaves also are more narrow at the point and more rounded at the base.

Philippi's Escallonia (page 35) forms a straggling bush, and in July the shoots are densely covered with panicles of small white flowers set amidst small dark-green leaves.

The Dotted Escallonia (page 36) is a much-branched evergreen bush, five to six feet high, with the shoots terminated by deep-red-coloured flowers which open in July. The common name of this plant is derived from the leaves having little dot-like swellings (glands) on the lower side of the leaves, which are sharp-pointed, ovate in form, and very glossy on the upper surface.

Early in May the Buffalo or Missouri Currant (page 37) one of the North American Currants, opens its golden-yellow flowers, which are borne in drooping cl.u.s.ters on short shoots arising from the main stems. It is a loosely-growing plant, about four feet high, with long-stalked, three-lobed leaves.

One of the European (British) shrubs, the Wild or Red Currant (page 38) is found in the woodlands, where its red-coloured and acid-tasted fruits are found in late summer. It throws drooping cl.u.s.ters of green-coloured flowers in early spring, and the three to five-angled leaves are a distinctive feature of this plant. It is from this plant that the garden forms of the Red Currant have arisen.

To those familiar with the West Coast of Scotland, the Riccarton Fuchsia (page 39) will have been noticeable to them there as forming hedges often over six feet in height. It is a handsome plant, with its shoots laden in summer and autumn with drooping red-coloured flowers.

The White-fruited Dogwood (page 40) is usually found in moist situations, and opens its flat-shaped flower-heads in May. They are succeeded in autumn by cl.u.s.ters of small, white-coloured, fruits. A plant that is easily recognisable by its bright-red-coloured shoots and large ovate-shaped and sharp-pointed leaves.

One of the most ornamental evergreen shrubs, the j.a.panese Aucuba (page 41), is grown in mostly all gardens. The leaves are pale green in colour and beautifully spotted with yellow; in form, spear-shaped, leathery to the feel, and very glossy. The flowers open in early spring, but are inconspicuous, and hidden by the foliage.

The Canadian Elder (page 42) is a plant frequently seen in shrubberies, opening its large, white-coloured flower-heads in late July, followed in autumn by cl.u.s.ters of purple-coloured berries. The ill.u.s.tration is very typical, the large flower-heads being shown among the pinnate leaves and oblong-shaped leaflets.

A native of South Europe, the Laurustinus (page 43) flowers throughout the winter, according to situation, and may be known by the flat corymbs of white flowers. It is an evergreen shrub, with s.h.i.+ning, dark-green, and oval-shaped leaves.

In the Tomentose Guelder Rose (page 44) the flowers are barren around the margin of the truss, and open in early summer, while the leaves are flat, rounded, dark-green in colour, and very wrinkled.

The j.a.panese Guelder Rose (page 45) has large, rounded, barren trusses of white flowers, which open in May. It forms a spreading bush from three to four feet high.