Hardy Ornamental Flowering Trees and Shrubs eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 199 pages of information about Hardy Ornamental Flowering Trees and Shrubs.

Hardy Ornamental Flowering Trees and Shrubs eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 199 pages of information about Hardy Ornamental Flowering Trees and Shrubs.

JAMESIA.

JAMESIA AMERICANA.—­Rocky Mountains and Colorado, 1865.  Amongst early spring-flowering shrubs this pretty but neglected plant is one of the best, of perfect hardihood, for it stands the vigour of our winters with impunity, and of dense thick growth; it is suitable for using in a variety of ways, as well as for purely ornamental purposes.  The leaves are oval and neatly dentated, and the flowers individually of large size, pure white, and produced in terminal bunches.  Cool soil and a shady situation would seem to suit the plant admirably, but for screen purposes in the rock garden or border it is invaluable on account of the strong and dense twigs.

JASMINUM.

JASMINUM FRUTICANS.—­South Europe, 1570.  An evergreen species, well adapted, from its rather stiff and upright growth, for planting alone.  It has trifoliolate leaves and showy yellow flowers.

J. HUMILE.—­India, 1656.  A hardy species of dwarf growth, and bearing beautiful golden flowers produced in summer.

J. NUDIFLORUM.—­Naked Jasmine.  China, 1844.  A showy and well-known species, from China, with numerous, usually solitary yellow flowers, ternate leaves, and flexible branches.  The variety J. nudiflorum aureo-variegatum has golden-variegated leaves.

J. OFFICINALE.—­Northern India to Persia, 1548.  The white-flowered Jasmine of our gardens is a very beautiful and desirable clambering shrub, either for wall covering, for planting by tree stumps, rooteries, or rockeries, or for screening and draping the pergola or garden latticework.  From its great hardihood, vigour of growth, and beauty of flowers, it is certainly one of the most deservedly popular of wall shrubs.  The branches are deep green, angular, and flexible, the leaves pinnate, and the flowers pure-white and sweetly-scented.  The variety J. officinale affine has flowers that are individually larger than those of the species; J. officinale aurea has badly variegated leaves; J. officinale grandiflorum and J. officinale grandiflorum majus, are also desirable kinds.

J. PUBIGERUM GLABRUM (syn J. Wallichianum), from North-west India, is not well-known, being tender in most parts of the country.

J. REVOLUTUM.—­India, 1812.  This has persistent dark, glossy-green leaves, and fragrant, bright yellow flowers, produced in large, terminal clusters.  From India, but perfectly hardy as a wall plant, and for which purpose, with its bright evergreen leaves, it is well suited.

As regards soil, the Jasmines are very accommodating, and are propagated by layers or cuttings.

KADSURA.

KADSURA JAPONICA.—­Japan, 1846.  This is a small-growing shrub, with lanceolate and pointed leaves, that are remotely dentated.  The flowers are not very showy, being of a yellowish-white colour and about an inch across.  They are produced both terminal and axillary, and in fair abundance.  The scarlet fruits are arranged in clusters, and when fully ripe are both showy and interesting.  Generally speaking this shrub suffers from severe frost, but as only the branch tips are injured, it shoots freely from the stock.  It produces its flowers in the autumn.  There is a variety with variegated leaves.

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Hardy Ornamental Flowering Trees and Shrubs from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.