THE GROWING OF THE ORNAMENTAL PLANTS
THE CLASSES OF PLANTS, AND
LISTS - Continued
5. THE SHRUBBERY
(Exclusive of coniferous evergreens and climbing plants.)
The common hardy shrubs or bushes may be planted in fall or spring. In
the northernmost parts of the country and in Canada spring planting is
usually safer, although on well-drained ground and when thoroughly
mulched the plants may even there do well if planted as soon as the
leaves drop in fall. If the shrubs are purchased in spring, they are
likely to have come from "cellared stock"; that is, the nurserymen dig
much of their stock in fall and store it in cellars built for the
purpose. While stock that is properly cellared is perfectly reliable,
that which has been allowed to get too dry or which has been otherwise
improperly handled comes on very slowly in the spring, makes a poor
growth the first year, and much of it may die.
In the planting of any kind of trees or shrubs, it is well to remember
that nursery-grown specimens generally transplant more readily and
thrive better than trees taken from the wild; and this is particularly
true if the stock was transplanted in the nursery. Trees that transplant
with difficulty, as the papaw or asimina, and some nut trees, may be
prepared for removal by cutting some of their roots--and especially the
tap-root, if they have such--a year or two in advance.
[Illustration XIII. The pageant of summer. Gardens of C. W. Dowdeswell,
England, from a painting by Miss Parsons. For permission to reproduce
the above picture we are indebted to the kindness of Messrs. Sutton &
Sons, Seed Merchants, Reading, England, the owners of the copyright, who
published it in their Amateur's Guide in Horticulture for 1909.]
It is ordinarily best to plow or spade the entire area in which the
shrubs are to be set. For a year or two the ground should be tilled
between the shrubs, either by horse tools or by hoes and rakes. If the
place looks bare, seeds of quick-growing flowers may be scattered about
the edges of the mass, or herbaceous perennials may be used.
The larger shrubs, as lilacs and syringas, may be set about 4 feet
apart; but the smaller ones should be set about 2 feet apart if it is
desired to secure an immediate effect. If after a few years the mass
becomes too crowded, some of the specimens may be removed (*p. 76).
Throw the shrubs into an irregular plantation, not in rows, and make the
inner edge of the mass more or less undulating and broken.
It is a good practice to mulch the plantation each fall with light
manure, leaf mold, or other material. Even though the shrubs are
perfectly hardy, this mulch greatly improves the land and promotes
growth. After the shrub borders have become two or three years old, the
drifting leaves of fall will be caught therein and will be held as a
mulch (p. 82).
When the shrubs are first planted, they are headed back one half or more
(Fig. 45); but after they are established they are not to be sheared,
but allowed to take their own way, and after a few years the outermost
ones will droop and meet the green*-sward (*pp. 25, 26).
Many rapid-growing trees may be utilized as shrubs by cutting them off
near the ground every year, or every other year, and allowing young
shoots to grow. Basswood, black ash, some of the maples, tulip tree,
mulberry, ailanthus, paulownia, magnolias, Acer campestre, and others
may be treated in this way (Fig. 50).
Nearly all shrubs bloom in spring or early summer. If kinds blooming
late in summer or in fall are desired, they maybe looked for in
baccharis, caryopteris, cephalanthus, clethra, hamamelis, hibiscus,
hydrangea, hypericum, lespedeza, rhus (R. Cotinus), Sambucus
Canadensis in midsummer, tamarisk.
Plants that bloom in very early spring (not mentioning such as birches,
alders, and hazels) may be found in amelanchier, cydonia, daphne, dirca,
forsythia, cercis (in tree list), benzoin, lonicera (L.
fragrantissima), salix (S. discolor and other pussy willows),
shepherdia.
Shrubs bearing conspicuous berries, pods, and the like, that persist in
fall or winter may be found in the genera berberis (particularly B.
Thunbergii), colutea, corylus, cratægus, euonymus, ilex, physocarpus,
ostrya, ptelea, pyracantha (Plate XIX) pyrus, rhodotypos, rosa (R.
rugosa), staphylea, symphoricarpus, viburnum, xanthoceras.
List of shrubbery plants for the North.
The following list of shrubs (of course not complete) comprises a
selection with particular reference to southern Michigan and central New
York, where the mercury sometimes falls to fifteen degrees below zero.
Application is also made to Canada by designating species that have been
found to be hardy at Ottawa.
The list is arranged alphabetically by the names of the genera.
The * denotes that the plant is native to North America.
The ‡ indicates species that are recommended by the
Central Experimental Farms, Ottawa, Ontario.
It is often difficult to determine whether a group should be listed
among shrubs or trees. Sometimes the plant is not quite a tree and is
yet something more than a shrub or bush; sometimes the plant may be
distinctly a tree in its southern range and a shrub in its northern
range; sometimes the same genus or group contains both shrubs and trees.
In the following genera there are doubtful cases: æsculus, alnus,
amelanchier, betula, caragana, castanea, cornus (C. florida),
cratægus, elæagnus, prunus, robinia.
Dwarf buckeye, Æsculus parviflora (Pavia macrostachya).*
Attractive in habit, foliage, and flower; produces a large foliage mass.
Alder. Several bushy species of alder are good lawn or border subjects,
particularly in wet places or along streams, as A. viridis,* A.
rugosa,* A. incana,* and others.
June-berry, Amelanchier Canadensis* and others. Flowers profusely in
spring before the leaves appear; some of them become small trees.
Azalea, Azalea viscosa* and A. nudiflora.* Require partial
shade, and a woodsy soil.
Japanese azalea, A. mollis (or A. Sinensis). Showy red and yellow or
orange flowers; hardy north.
Groundsel tree, "white myrtle," Baccharis halimifolia.* Native on
the Atlantic seashore, but grows well when planted inland; valuable for
its white fluffy "bloom" (pappus) in latest fall; 4-10 ft.
Spice-bush, Benzoin odoriferum (Lindera Benzoin*). Very
early-blooming bush of wet places, the yellow, clustered, small flowers
preceding the leaves; 6--10 ft.
Barberry, Berberis vulgaris. Common barberry; 4-6 ft. The
purple-leaved form (var. purpurea‡) is popular.
Thunberg's barberry, B. Thunbergii.‡ One of the best of lawn and
border shrubs, with compact and attractive habit, deep red autumn
foliage and bright scarlet berries in profusion in fall and winter;
excellent for low hedges; 2-4 ft.
Mahonia, Berberis Aquifolium.*‡ Evergreen; needs some protection
in exposed places; 1-3 ft.
Dwarf birch, Betula pumila.* Desirable for low places; 3-10 ft.
Box, Buxus sempervirens. An evergreen shrub, useful for hedges and
edgings in cities; several varieties, some of them very dwarf. See page 220.
Carolina allspice, sweet-scented shrub, Calycanthus floridus.* Dull
purple, very fragrant flowers; 3-8 ft.
Siberian pea-tree, Caragana arborescens.‡ Flowers pea-like,
yellow, in May; very hardy; 10-15 feet.
Small pea-tree, C. pygmœa. Very small, 1-3 ft, but sometimes grafted
on C. arborescens.
Shrubby pea-tree, C. frutescens.‡ Flowers larger than those of C.
arborescens; 3--10 ft.
Large-flowered pea-tree, C. grandiflora.‡ Larger-flowered than the
last, which it resembles; 4 ft.
Blue spirea, Caryopteris Mastacanthus. Flowers bright blue, in late
summer and fall; 2-4 ft., but is likely to die to ground in winter.
Chinquapin or dwarf chestnut, Castanea pumila.* Becomes a small
tree, but usually bushy.
Ceanothus, Ceanothus Americanus.* A very small native shrub,
desirable for dry places under trees; 2-3 ft. There are many good
European garden forms of ceanothus, but not hardy in the
northern states.
Button-bush, Cephalanthus occidentalis.* Blossoms in July and
August; desirable for water-courses and other low places; 4-10 ft.
Fringe tree, Chionanthus Virginica.* Shrub as large as lilac, or
becoming tree-like, with fringe-like white flowers in spring.
White alder, Clethra alnifolia.* A very fine, hardy shrub, producing
very fragrant flowers in July and August; should be better known;
4-10 ft.
Bladder senna, Colutea arborescens. Pea-like yellowish flowers in
June, and big inflated pods; 8-12 ft.
European osier, Cornus alba (known also as C. Sibirica and C.
Tatarica). Branches deep red; 4-8 ft.; the variegated form ‡ has
leaves edged white.
Bailey's osier, Cornus Baileyi.* Probably the finest of the native
osiers for color of twigs and foliage; 5-8 ft.
Red-twigged osier, Cornus stolonifera.* The red twigs are very
showy in winter; 5 to 8 ft.; some bushes are brighter in color
than others.
Flowering dogwood, C. florida.* Very showy tree or big shrub,
desirable for borders of groups and belts. A red-flowered variety is on
the market.
Cornelian Cherry, Cornus Mas. Becoming a small tree, 15-20 ft.;
flowers numerous in bunches, yellow, before the leaves; fruit,
cherry-like, edible, red.
Hazel or filbert, Corylus maxima var. purpurea. A well-known
purple-leaved shrub, usually catalogued as C. Avellana purpurea. The
eastern American species (C. Americana* and C. rostrata*) are
also interesting.
Cotoneaster. Several species of cotoneaster are suitable for cultivation
in the middle and southern latitudes. They are allied to cratægus. Some
are evergreen. Some kinds bear handsome persistent fruits.
Wild thorns, Cratœgus punctata,* C. coccinea,*‡ C.
Crus-galli,*‡ and others. The native thorn apples or hawthorns, of
numerous species, are amongst our best large shrubs for planting and
should be much better known; 6-20 ft.
Japanese quince, Cydonia (or Pyrus) Japonica. An old favorite
blooming in earliest spring, in advance of the leaves; not hardy at
Lansing, Mich.; 4-5 ft.
Maule's Japanese quince, C. Maulei.‡ Bright red; fruit handsome;
hardier than C. Japonica; 1-3 ft.
Daphne, Daphne Mezereum. Produces rose-purple or white flowers in
abundance in earliest spring before the leaves appear. Should be planted
on the edges of groups; leaves deciduous; 1-4 ft.
Garland flower, D. Cneorum.‡ Pink flowers in very early spring and
again in autumn; leaves evergreen; 1-1/2 ft.
Deutzia, Deutzia scabra (or crenata) and varieties. Standard
shrubs; the variety "Pride of Rochester," with pinkish flowers, is
perhaps the best form for the North; 4-6 ft. Of this and the next there
are forms with ornamental foliage.
Small deutzia, D. gracilis. Very close little bush, with pure white
flowers; 2-3 ft.
Lemoine's deutzia, D. Lemoinei. A hybrid, very desirable; 1-3 ft.
Weigela, Diervilla Japonica and other species. Free bloomers, very
fine, in many colors, 4-6 ft.; the forms known as Candida,‡
rosea,‡ Sieboldii variegata,‡ are hardy and good.
Leatherwood, Dirca palustris.* If well grown, the leatherwood makes
a very neat plant; blossoms appear before the leaves, but not showy;
4-6 ft.
Russian olive, oleaster, Elœagnus angustifolia.‡ Foliage silvery
white; very hardy; becoming a small tree, 15-20 ft.
Wolf-willow, E. argentea.*‡ Large and silvery leaves; suckers
badly; 8-12 ft.
Goumi, E. longipes (sometimes called E. edulis). Attractive
spreading bush, with handsome edible cranberry-like berries; 5-6 ft.
Burning-bush, Euonymus atropurpureus.* Very attractive in fruit;
8-12 ft., or even becoming tree-like.
Several other species are in cultivation, some of them evergreen. In the
North, success may be expected with E. Europœus (sometimes a small
tree), E. alatus, E. Bungeanus, E. latifolius, and perhaps others.
Exochorda, Exochorda grandiflora. A large and very showy shrub,
producing a profusion of apple-like white flowers in early spring; 6-12
ft; allied to the spireas.
Forsythia, Forsythia viridissima. Blossoms yellow, appearing before
the leaves; requires protection in many places North; 6-10 ft.
Drooping forsythia, F. suspensa. Makes an attractive mass on a bank or
border; 6-12 ft.
Dyer's weed, Genista tinctoria.‡
Yellow pea-like flowers in June; 1-3 ft.
Silver-bell tree, Halesia tetraptera.*
Bell-shaped white flowers in May; 8-10 ft.
Witch hazel, Hamamelis Virginiana.*
Blossoms in October and November; unique and desirable if well grown;
8-12 ft.
Althea, Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus Syriacus (Althœa frutex).
In many forms, purple, red, and white, and perhaps the best of late
summer-blooming shrubs; 8-12 ft.
Hydrangea, Hydrangea paniculata, var. grandiflora.‡
One of the best and most showy small flowering shrubs; 4-10 ft.
Downy hydrangea, H. radiata.*
Attractive in both foliage and flower.
Oak-leaved hydrangea, H. quercifolia.*
This is especially valuable for its luxuriant foliage; even if killed to
the ground in winter, it is still worth cultivating for its
strong shoots.
The greenhouse hydrangea (H. hortensis in many forms) may be used as
an outdoor subject in the South.