Hardy Ornamental Flowering Trees and ShrubsWebster, Angus D.
History
Hardy Ornamental Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Webster, Angus D.
Flowering shrubs; Flowering trees
The leaves are pale green, and pinnate, somewhat resembling those of the
Rowan Tree. Flowers five petalled, creamy white, sometimes very slightly
tinged with flesh colour, with a coppery red or violet-purple centre,
and disposed in racemes. When fully expanded they are an inch across,
and somewhat reflexed. It flowers early in April, with the appearance of
the leaves, the blooms being produced in great abundance, in spike-like
clusters fully seven inches long, and succeeded by a small green
Pear-like fruit. This is one of the most distinct and handsome of
recently introduced shrubs, and will, when more widely disseminated, be
largely planted for purely ornamental purposes. It grows from 10 feet to
about 15 feet high.
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 spikes, are of a peculiar dark
purple colour. It prefers a cool, moist situation.
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 numerous flowers that are each
about 2 inches deep. There is a beautiful variegated form of this
species named Y. filamentosa variegata, and one with much narrower
leaves than the typical species, and known as Y. filamentosa
angustifolia.
Y. GLORIOSA.--The Mound Lily. United States, 1596. This is another
well-known hardy species, with long, sharp-pointed leaves, and a
handsome, much branched scape, of flowers that are each about 2 inches
deep. There are several varieties, differing in colour of foliage,
including Y. gloriosa glaucescens, with decidedly glaucous foliage; Y.
gloriosa superba, with rigid leaves and a shorter and denser flower
scape; and another with variegated leaves. Y. gloriosa recurvifolia is
usually dwarfer in the stem than the type, and more inclined to branch
than the other species, and less rigid, with recurving leaves that are
not so sharp-pointed, The flower panicle is large and very much
branched.
The Yuccas all do well if planted in light loam of good quality.
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. Richardi_).--Zelkova Tree.
Western Asia to Mount Caucasus, 1760. This is a handsome, large growing
tree, with oblong deeply-crenated leaves, and small and inconspicuous
flowers. For avenue planting or as a standard specimen this is a
valuable tree, being quite hardy, and of free and quick growth. P.
crenata pendula is a good weeping form, and worthy of culture.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account