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.

LINNAEA.

LINNAEA BOREALIS.—­Twin Flower.  A small and elegant, much-creeping evergreen shrub, with small, ovate crenate leaves, and pairs of very fragrant, pink flowers.  Two conditions are necessary for its cultivation—­a half-shaded aspect where bottom moisture is always present, and a deep, rich, friable loam.  A native of Scotland and England, flowering in July.

LIPPIA.

LIPPIA CITRIODORA (syns Aloysia citriodora and Verbena triphylla).—­Lemon-scented Verbena.  Chili, 1794.  With its slender branches and pale green, pleasantly-scented, linear leaves, this little plant is a general favourite that needs no description.  The flowers are not very ornamental, being white or lilac, and produced in small, terminal panicles.  A native of Chili, it is not very hardy, but grown against a sunny wall, and afforded the protection of a mat in winter, with a couple of shovelfuls of cinders heaped around the stem, it passes through the most severe weather with little or no injury, save, in some instances, the branch tips being killed back.  Propagated readily from cuttings placed in a cool frame or under a hand-light.

LIRIODENDRON.

LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA.—­Tulip Tree.  North America, 1688.  One of the noblest hardy exotic trees in cultivation.  The large, four-lobed, truncate leaves, of a soft and pleasing green, are highly ornamental, and are alone sufficient to establish the identity of the tree.  Flowers large, yellow, and sweet-scented, and usually freely produced when the tree has attained to a height of between 20 feet and 30 feet.  When we consider the undoubted hardihood of the tree and indifference to soil, its noble aspect, handsome foliage that is so distinct from that of any other tree, and showy flowers, we feel justified in placing it in the very first rank of ornamental trees.  L. tulipifera integrifolia has entire leaves, which render it distinct from the type; L. tulipifera fastigiata, or pyramidalis, is of erect growth; L. tulipifera aurea, with golden foliage; and L. tulipifera crispa, with the leaves curiously undulated—­a peculiarity which seems constant, but is more curious than beautiful.  Few soils come amiss to the Tulip Tree, it thriving well in that of very opposite descriptions—­loam, almost pure gravel, and alluvial deposit.

LONICERA.

LONICERA CAPRIFOLIUM.—­Europe.  This species resembles L. Periclymenum, but is readily distinguished by the sessile flower-heads, and fawny-orange flowers.

L. FLEXUOSA (syn L. brachypoda).—­Japan, 1806.  This is a pretty species, and one of the most useful of the climbing section.  By its slender, twining, purplish stems, it may at once be distinguished, as also by the deep green, purplish-tinted leaves, and sweetly-scented flowers of various shades of yellow and purple.  A native of China, and perfectly hardy as a wall plant.  L. flexuosa aureo-reticulata is a worthy variety, in which the leaves are beautifully netted or variegated with yellow.

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