Home Gardens

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 23, 20 February 1948, Page 6

Home Gardens

(By J. W. Goodwin, N.D.H. (N.Z.), F.R.H.S., Massey Agricultural College.) AUTUMN TREES AND SHRUBS Trees and shrubs which flower in the late summer and autumn are subjects on which I have had several inquiries from correspondents, who ask for a list of subjects suitable, for this purpose. This section has been rather neglected by gardeners and many worthy plants are not as common as they should be. There has been a tendency to use annuals and perennials to bridge the gap between preChristmas flowering shrubs and the autumn foliage and attractive fruits. Hydrangea macrophylla (Hortensis) and its numerous varieties is by far the most common summer and autumn flowering shrub. In the colder districts where the terminal buds are frosted, flowering commences later, but in all cases is free and prolonged until winter sets in. These plants, which will grow in almost any good, garden soil, will always suffer if conditions become too dry. Acid soils will give blue colouring and soils containing lime will give pinks. Hydrangea paniculata and its variety grandiflora are also well known. They bear pyramids of white flowers which become, pink with age. It is the hardiest hydrangea and should bfe pruned back almost to the base of the previous season’s growth each winter. Almost equally hardy is H. petiolaris, which bears masses of creamy-white fragrant flowers. Fuchsia For Milder Districts The garden fucshia is an invaluable summer and autumn flowering subject in milder districts. Heavy frosts will kill even well-established plants back to ground level, Light frost? may damage the young growths but plants will recover rapidly and produce a good display. F. Riccartonii and its allies are the hardiest. The hybrid fucshias are so free-flow'ering and have such a wide range of bright colours that it is well worth while to protect the plants with some bracken or manuka scrub in among the branches and around the main stem. Another method adopted in colder districts is to lift the plants and either pot them up or heel them in a glass frame. The gardener with a glasshouse may prefer to raise a fresh batch annually from cuttings. Fucchias prefer similar conditions to hydrangeas, except that they will flower perhaps more freely in full sunshine provided they have plenty of moisture and are well mulched.

A plant of distinctive habit and suited as a lawn or foreground subject is aesculus parviflora (6 to 8 ft.). This plant is deciduous and bears ere.ct panicles of white flowers in profusion. It stools out from the base, making a round shrub a miniature of its giant brother, the “Horse Chestnut.” Unfortunately, it is rather difficult to obtain at present. Mitroria coccinea, 3 to 5 feet high and more in spread bears showy brick-red tubular flowers. It prefers cool and shady conditions, as does tricuspidaria lanceolata, the choice of all connoisseurs of choice shrubs. These subjects all require good growing conditions and care and attention when young. For Average Soils Trees and shrubs for average soils include the rose, the merits of which are known to all. Others include curvopteris incana (mastacanthus), the “Blue Spiraea,” which grows 3 to 5 feet high and bears spikes of blue flowers. It is almost deciduous and should be pruned back almost to-the base of the previous season’s growth in winter, time. The abelias always give flower during January and may continue well into the autumn. A. grandiflora, often sold as chinensis, is well known and may be used for hedges. A. floribunda is a slow-growing evergreen 5 to 8 feet high which bears long slender tubular carmine or rc'sy red flowers. A. schumanii, 5 to 6 feet, has shorter tubular lilac-col-oured flowers.

In light or well-drained, soils in sunny positions the following are suitable: The deciduous Ceannothus gloire de Versailles (6-Bft) with soft blue flowers and its small counterparts, “Marie Simon” and “Richesse” with pink flowers, will do well. These subjects are pruned back fairly hard in the early spring and flower in January. In mild districts, and if pruned in the autumn, they may flower before Christmas. Of the evergreen ceanothus, C. Burkwoodii flowers well throughout the year, particularly late autumn. Buddleia Davidii (variabilis) is also pruned hard in the winter and bears long panicles of purple-coloured flowers beloved of butterflies. Variety Etoile de France is one of the best. Indigofera decora is a small bushy member of the pea family which bears wistaria-like racemes of pink flowers. I have not mentioned the Scarlet Gum, nor a whole host of halfhardy subjects, and many others. It will be seen that there is a wealth of material to choose from for the beginner and connoisseur alike.