FLOWERING SHRUBS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 August 1939, Page 3

FLOWERING SHRUBS

BEAUTY OF LASIANDRA. One of the most excellent of the flowering shrubs is the Lasiandra. The beautiful rich violet coloured flowers are produced over such a lengthy period, and at such a dull time of the year, that the shrub is well worth growing by all who can manage it. Heavy frosts are apt to play havoc with it. but if the plant is kept to a low shrub and not allowed to grow too tall it can easily be protected by throwing a piece of scrim over it on severe nignts. Another shrub that is flowering now is the abutilon. The dainty, well-shap-ed flowers are attractive, making the trees look as if they had been decorated with innumerable Chinese lanterns. The old variety with orange crimson flowers is well known, but there are also other varieties which bear flowers of the following beautiful shades: pure white, clear pale yellow, deep golden yellow, crimson scarlet, violet purple, and blush pink. Any shrub that brightens our gardens during the dull month of July has a special value, for the herbaceous border is practically bare at that time, and we rely to a great extent upon flowering shrubs and shrubs that bear beautiful berries. Other shrubs that are in flower at present are brugmansia, daphne indica, Pyrus japonica, Jasminum nudiflorum, laurustinus, camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, habrothamnus, Lucullia gratissima. It should be a point with gardeners to observe winter flowering shrubs that do well in their locality, for there is a good deal of pleasure to be got out of those varieties that flower well during winter.