CHAPTER X.

ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS FOR GARDEN AND LAWN.

“Thank God for the beautiful Flowers That blossom so sweetly and fair; They garnish this strange life of ours, And brighten our paths every where; They speak of the heaven above us, Where angels are singing His praise, Where dwell the dear ones who love us, Who faded from earth’s thorny ways.”

Shrubs are indispensable in the smallest collection of plants. Many of them are early risers, and bloom as soon as the frost and ice have disappeared. Once obtained and planted out in good, rich soil, they require but little attention, and will bloom for years in the same locality. Yet their foliage and flowers will be more luxuriant and beautiful, if they are treated to a few shovelsful of compost or manure, yearly. If it is given to them in the autumn, it acts as a protection from the frost, and can be dug into their roots early in the spring. When they are first planted, it is better to take the autumn rather than the spring for the operation; but if done in March or April (according to the climate), be sure to mulch the roots with long stable litter, or a few inches deep of hay; this will keep them from drying up during the heat of summer.

The Flowering Almond takes first rank, because it blooms so early, and though very common, is always popular. If it is neglected it will grow ill-shaped and scraggy, but if it is cut back as soon as its blossoms are fallen, its increased growth will soon repay their sacrifice.

The Flowering Plum is called by some the White Flowering Almond, and is equally hardy, its flowers being as double as those of the Almond, and of a snowy whiteness.

The Lilac is always admired, will always be cultivated; every house must have at least one or more of these shrubs. The purple variety is seen everywhere; the white is not quite as common, and is not as sickishly sweet as the purple.

The Persian and Chinese Lilacs are more beautiful than the common kinds. The former is a small tree of graceful habit, and its flowers are of a lighter lilac color. The latter is especially desirable, the flowers are much darker than the other varieties, and its foliage is of a dark glossy green, very rich. These shrubs are perfectly hardy, and are usually grown without any care, yet if pruned and manured their beauty will be much increased.

Cydonia Japonica, or Scarlet-flowered Japan Quince, is also a well-known shrub, producing quantities of the richest scarlet flowers close to its branches; it is indispensable in every garden.

Calycanthus floridus, or Allspice Flower, is an old favorite, not so often cultivated in these latter days. Its foliage is of a light glossy green, and its flowers are of the darkest maroon, and very fragrant; both blossoms and branches possess a strong spicy flavor, and it is sometimes called the Strawberry Shrub, from a fancied resemblance to the odor of that berry.

Forsythia viridissima is one of the earliest of all shrubs in blossoming; its bright golden-lined flowers appear before the leaves are hardly visible, and completely cover the branches.

Flowering Acacia, with its profusion of pink and white pea-shaped blossoms, is always welcome. Its foliage is deeply serrated like the Locust leaves; its habit is straggling, which detracts from its beauty.

Hydrangea quercifolia, or Oak-leaved Hydrangea, has strongly marked foliage, and its blossoms are in large panicles of white flowers. It blooms in July, and is a great attraction on a lawn.

Hydrangea deutziafolia is a recent importation from Japan. Its leaves resemble those of the Deutzia; it blooms in August, bearing very large panicles of snowy white flowers, which change to pink, and finally to a brownish purple. It is a valuable addition to a garden or lawn.

The Deutzias are generally cultivated, and are always beautiful.

Deutzia gracilis is perfectly hardy, and has plentiful clusters of pure white flowers. Deutzia scrabra is of larger growth, often attains to five or six feet, and is covered with clusters of blossoms, which resemble the Orange flower without its fragrance.

Deutzia crenata flore pleno produces double flowers, white in the center, and red in the outer leaves. It is of a strong habit, desires plenty of room to grow in, and will often be seen over six feet high, and when in flower is “a thing of beauty.” All these species of Deutzias are hardy, but at the far north require a little protection in winter.

Mahonia Aquifolium is an elegant, evergreen shrub. Its foliage is evergreen, and of a dark rich purplish green. Its flowers are bright yellow, and appear early in the spring.

The Privet or Prim is also desirable, its foliage is attractive, and its small clusters of white flowers add much to its beauty.

Philadelphus inodorus, or Mock Orange, is a more delicate species of the Syringa. It bears large, pure white flowers with rich yellow stamens, along its slender stems, covering the shrub with a wealth of bloom. It will grow eight feet high, and blossoms in June.

The Wiegelas are well established favorites, and deservedly so; for their brightly colored flowers, intermixed with the glossy green foliage, produce a fine effect either in the flower bed or on the lawn.

Wiegela nivea produces pure white flowers, very beautiful for large bouquets and vases.

Wiegela rosea bears apple-blossom colored flowers, blending pink and white in a lovely intermingling.

Wiegela alba has white flowers, which change to a pale rose tint.

Spiræas are of a most numerous family. The florists have cultivated them with great success, and wherever the Lilac and the Syringa flourish they will grow and bloom in perfection.

Their flowers are of various shades of color, from pure white, white tinged with pink, yellowish white, purple rose, lilac, pink, etc.

Spiræa salicifolia grows from two to five feet high; is white, tinted with rose, and blooms in June and July.

Spiræa opulifolia, five to seven feet high; white flowers, with rosy tint.

Spiræa Reevesii, one of the most beautiful of its family, flowers in June in pure white clusters.

Spiræa Bella, dwarf; pink flowers.

Spiræa Japonica is also dwarf, and bears feather plumes of white flowers in June.

Tartarian Honeysuckles are large shrubs of much beauty, whether covered with their pink or white flowers, or with scarlet berries. They will grow from cuttings or seeds, and require little care. The two varieties planted together make a fine wall for a garden, and serve as a protection from the north winds. There are several shrubs which bear brightly-colored berries, which make them conspicuous objects in garden or lawn; so in making up a collection of shrubs we should not forget them.

Euonymus, or Strawberry Tree, is very handsome, with its purple flowers, succeeded by brilliant scarlet berries curiously shaped, which remain on the branches late into the Autumn. The Burning Bush is the common name for it in many localities. A variety of this shrub or tree grows in most of the Middle, Western and Southern States.

Euonymus atropurpureus, or Spindle Tree, is its proper title. It is a very beautiful addition to every lawn. The European Burning Bush is much inferior to our native variety. The Broad-Leaved Burning Bush is a native of Austria; its botanical name is Euonymus latifolius, and it is not commonly grown in this country, but is very desirable.

The Black Alder bears berries of a flame-like scarlet, close to its branches, and is a beautiful shrub.

I have endeavored to mention a few of the flowering shrubs that will not fail to give satisfaction to all amateur gardeners. Many of them are old-time flowers, which possess a charm to me, as childish associations of delight linger about them, and render them doubly dear.

The Rhododendrons are extensively cultivated, and greatly improved from those which grow wild in the Middle States. The English florists have brought these beautiful shrubs to the highest state of perfection.

The Rose of Sharon is one of the most beautiful foreign shrubs. Its blossoms are bell-shaped, and of many mingled hues. In Syria, Judea and Arabia it is a sacred flower, and they have adopted it as the emblem of the Resurrection. The dried flower is placed by the inhabitants of Judea in a vase of water beside the beds of the sick; if it expands, the omen is favorable, but if not, death is considered inevitable.

The Yucca Filamentosa, rather a hardy herbaceous plant, though a shrub, is very ornamental and hardy, its foliage resembling that of the Aloe. It blooms in August and September, and the flower stem rises to the height of five or six feet, surmounted with white, bell-shaped flowers. It grows well in common garden soil, and is very desirable as a single plant on the lawn.

All of these shrubs are most agreeable additions to every flower garden, but if you cannot find room for all, be sure to select a few of them, for no other plants will give you as large a supply of flowers with so little attention expended on them. Most of them will readily grow from cuttings, all of them will layer easily, and many of them increase by suckers from the roots.