HOME GARDENS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 52, 4 June 1948, Page 7

HOME GARDENS

(By J. W. Goodwin, N.D.H. (N.Z.), F.R.H.S., Massey Agricultural College.)

WINTER COLOUR IN THE GARDEN Winter flowering subjects are much more numerous than is generally realised. The actual number possible depends firstly on the severity of the climate and, secondly, on the soil conditions and the lay of the land in the individual garden. For convenience they may be divided into two classes—those which flower late, commencing in May, and extending well into the winter, and those which flower early, commencing shortly after i the shortest day and extend their l display into the spring. There are some exceptions which “break” in May and flower intermittently, when days are warm, right through till the spring. Most notable of these are Prunus subhirtella autumnalis, Viburnum fragrans and some of the Chaenomeles (Cydonia japonica). Viburnum fragrans may disappoint in early years as it is seldom that many flowers are open together; but make no mistake, its high reputation is well warranted. Older plants consistently produce an attractive succession of the beautiful fragrant pink flowers. This plant is deciduous and its upright growth may eventually reach 8 feet. Chaenomeles lagenaria is the correct name for Cydonia japonica. Most forms are early flowering and they will grow in lighter soils. The variety Winter Cheer has bright showy, orange-scarlet flowers and will grow to about five feet. Variety Simonii has large crimson-scarlet flowers and is dwarfer in stature. These two are consistently early flowering. Some Loftier Species

The tree dahlia (Dahlia imper--ialis) has flowered well this year. May is the usual month for this plant to flower, but frosts often cause disappointment. Our plants tower ten feet high with 40 to 50 large single mauve pink flowers looking down on the massive stems and large foliage. The “Mount Morgan Wattle” (A. podalyriaefolia, 10ft.) has striking blue-grey foliage and cluster of bright yellow flowers. This is normally the earliest wattle to flower, but on warm banks it will usually flower in both May and July. , The Erica family give us many free-flowering subjects, some of which flower intermittently throughout the year. Most notable at the present time is E. autumnalis, a compact bushy plant growing to 3 feet in height. It bears its small rosepink bells in great profusion over a period of two months Beloved of Beilbirds Ceanothus Burkwoodii is the latest member of this genus to flower and will continue till the end of May. This plant grows about 5 feet high, and more in width. It is a bushy evergreen and the attractive ultramarine flowers are borne in profusion. The winter-flowering gum Eucalyptus leucoxylon rosea (campbellii) is beloved of our native birds. Bellbirds and tuis are seldom far away when this tree is grown. The beautiful pink flowers are freely borne both in early and late winter, and in sheltered gardens there are always a few even in the dead of winter. This is rather a strong growing tree when young, but slows down when it commences to flower. It is a pink variety, of a white species, and consequently there is considerable variation in the flower colour of seedling plants. Purchase only, selected strains to avoid disappointment.

There are quite a number of perenials and alpines which give a latewinter colour, but the early-winter colour is dependent mainly on the extended flowering of late autumn subjects. There is a hybrid wallflower, Cheiranthus Kewensis, of which there is a good free-flowering mauve form. It is a true perennial and will flower for many years, though it ultimately becomes straggly. Cyrtanthus lutescens and C. O’Brienii are flowering now on the rock garden. The former is pale yellow and the latter coral-red. Both are borne on foot high stems and the flowers are fragrant. They are , South African bulbous plants, and medium frosts will check them.