Wilson in Britain

by B. F. Savage

The British have been collectors of prompted by the editor of Maottotta, for centuries. By the beginning to try and trace some of the original of the 19th century the enthusiast plants from wild seed. was well established. Britain' s The first of the Wilson magnolias to worldwide interests ensured a steady reach Britain, were of course those stream of new plant material sent home discovered and collected as seeds for by administrative officials and traders. the nursery firm of Veitch during By the end of that century, Antwerp E. Wilson's first two journeys to China in Pratt, traveller, ornithologist and 1899 and 1903. Subsequently he entomologist, in the introduction to his collected for the Arnold Arboretum in book, "To" the Snows of Tibet Through 1906 and 1910, whence a few of these China, wrote: "So little of this great seedlings were sent direct to world of ours is new to the explorer or Kew Gardens in 1911. By 1913 Prof. naturalist, that it becomes more Charles Sargent. director of the Arnold difficult year by year to find unworked Arboretum, had found that the new fields. "' When E.H. Wilson was about young magnolias were not hardy at to leave on his first trip to China, Boston and he arranged to send them specifically to obtain seeds of the Dove all to the French nursery firm of Leon , Davidia invoiurraia, Sir Harry Chenault at Orleans, for propagation Veitch is reported to have said to him: and distribution. A few years later, "My boy. stick to the one thing you grafted plants were being received from are after and do not spend time and France by British gardens. It is also money wandering about. Probably possible that Wilson continued to send almost every worthwhile plant in China has now been introduced into Europe. " Of course, Wilson upon reaching China disregarded both statements, and a vast number of new plants were introduced into cultivation. many from places unexplored by Western plant experts up to that time. Dr. Stephen A. Spongberg's botanical treatise "Magnoliacea Hardy in Temperate North America" is dedicated to the memory of E. H. Wilson. Reading this recently, I have been led to look more closely at as many as possible of the Wilson Magnolia wilsonii drawing by A. V. magnolias growing in Britain, and. Webster.

31 seed on a small scale direct to recipients in Britain while collecting for the Arnold Arboretum. When in the field, Wilson's methods of workmg and system of collection and labelling his seeds and herbarium material were different from those of most other collectors. This resulted in mistakes in the mixing of some seed lots and incorrect association of herbarium specimens in and those in fruit. This fact, combined with such a quantity of unknown new species the number of Asian magnolias in cultivation was doubled in a few years —brought these magnolias under discussion from the denudata ur )t(anuer, New time they first started to grow and Magnolia flower and discussion continues right York . up to the present day. It is probably true to say that no group of a single of M, dan sonianrr as seen at Lanarth plant genus introduced by one man has at its zenith would require every prayer given rise to so much speculation and of every pilgrim in China. 4 The conjecture as the Wilson Magnolias. are carried all over the tree down to The following notes, still incomplete, eye level and are almost impossible to are what I have been able to discover distinguish from those of a good form so far about the Wilson Magnolias in of M. sargenriana, although on the cultivation in Great Britain latter the flowers are borne high up. M. dawsoniana was discovered by Johnstone, comparing these two Wilson during his third expedition in magnolias in detail. suggests that M. 1908 and seeds were sent to the Arnold sargeniiana might be a natural hybrid Arboretum. A second collection was of M. daivsoniona. ' There are large made on his fourth trip in 1910-11. The plants at Caerhays and Trewithen, well young seedlings were all sent by over 50 feet tall. Seedlings have been Arnold to Chenault, who distributed raised I'rom the original plants. Some grafted plants. One of these, planted in of these are exciting, most notable 1921 at Rowal)ane. County Down, being the one in Nigel Holman's North Ireland, was the first to flower collection at Chyverton, Cornwall. This in 1932 or 1933 and was recorded as plant, a seedhng from Caerhays m being 26 feet high in 1947.' Another 1944, first flowered in 1968. The backs received at Kew in 1919 died in 1958. of the are a lovely deep crimson, The second to flower, in 1936, was at much darker than the type. This Lanarth, St. Keverne. Cornwall, in the characteristic varies somewhat with the garden of the late P. D. Williams. This Winter weather, however, tending to be plant has a reputation for being laden darker the colder it is. It is reported when mature with thousands of that this clone (now named flowers. George Johnstone described 'Chyverton') has the very considerable the effect as being like bedecked advantage of having frost resistant with pilgrims' prayers as once were flowers, these having withstood, seen in Chinese Temple gardens. He without harm. 8' F (-5'C) of frost. ' stated that festoonment equal to that M. delavayi was one of the very first

32 collections for Veitch by Wilson and is thought to have been planted at Caerhays as early as 1899. A tree there now measures at least 40 feet high by 40 feet across. M. delavayi first flowered under glass at Kew in 1908, although this specimen no longer exists. For an evergreen from so near the tropics it has proved remarkably hardy on walls in the South and elsewhere in Britain. An original Veitch plant purchased at that nursery's Coombe Wood Sale in 1913, is at Highdown in Sussex and is now 36 feet tall. Large plants are also at Borde Hill, Sussex; Bodnant in North Wales; Abbotsbury, Dorset; and Exbury and Pyelwell Park in Hampshire. There is also a good plant, possibly 15 feet tall and flowering well this year on a wall at Hidcote in the Cotswold hills, not renowned for being a mild area by British standards. M. officinalis was collected by M. campbellii and M. kobus at Wilson in 1900 and sent out by Veitch Killenon Gardens in Great Britain. as the "Chinese" M. hypoleuca. The Japanese M. hypoleuca was already in country were grafted ones from cultivation and the new magnolia may Chenaulty However, it seems M. have been undervalued as a new species sargentiana first flowered in for the reason. I have been unable to Britain at Nymans, Sussex, in 1932 and locate any original plants of Wilson's James Comber. the garden manager collection so far. H. G. Hillier and Roy there, recorded that this plant was "a Lancaster consider it probably lost in seedling raised from Wilson seed cultivation, with the possible exception by J. Nix Esq. and was given to him when of a plant at Trewithen, Cornwall. ' , visiting Tilgate. " This tree still exists in Other plants thought to be this species, the walled garden at Nymansy have turned out to be M. hypo/eura. M. sargeniiana var. robusta Grafted These two similar species have been plants were distributed from Chenault planted together so as to allow and first flowered in Britain at comparison by Sir John Carew Pole at Caerhays in 1931 at about 17 Antony House, near Plymouth. years of age. Seedlings of this tree and of M. sargeniiana seed was collected for another original grafted plant there the Arnold Arboretum in 1908 and this which flowered a few years later, have species was amongst the few seedlings since flowered at about twelve years of that were sent direct to Kew in 1911. age. George Johnstone felt that this Chenault also sent some seedlings to variety should be regarded as a Kew before commencing to propagate separate species4 and this view is by grafting. Unfortunately none of supported by Nigel Holman" and Neil these survived for long. J.G. Millais Treseder". However, the eminent writes that most of the plants in this Magnolia authority, J.E. Dandy, could

33 not agree. This is still a matter of up and these plants went to at least contention. The seedlings of the three gardens; Bodnant, Caerhays and original grafted plants and a second Kew. Wilson was under the impression generation grown from these have that he had collected the wild form of shown no reversion to the type species, M denudata (heptaperaj calling it M. although they have grown more denudaia var. purpurascens. However, vigorously, being on their own roots. when one of the plants at Caerhays Generally this variety is much preferred began to flower around 1925 it was to the type. The flowers are larger, clearly something new. The late J. C. being up to 12 inches across and better Williams sent specimens to Kew for displayed. Lord Aberconway once examination by Dr. Otto Stapf, who described them graphically if somewhat thought it a new species and decided to prosaically " as being "like gramophone name the lovely new magnolia" diva trumpets. There is a fine tree planted v, hich means "goddess. However, J. E. out in an open space at Leonardslee, Dandy, working on magnolias at the Horsham. Sussex. where it withstands time, drew Dr. Stapf's attention to buffeting by the v inds. Another Pampanim's herbarium matenal of' M. planted out in 1946 at Windsor Great .iprengen, which matched the new Park flowered 12 years later and has magnoha, and in collaboration they done so ever since, being undamaged m agreed on the name M. sprengeri var. the ferocious winter of' 1962-63. diia. If ever a flowering tree was well M. sprengeri var diva Wilson's seed named it is this one. and no doubt it lot %6118»as apparently a ~mall one inspires many who see it in its full Seedlings were raised and grown on at glory to become disciples of this the Coombe Wood nursery of Messrs. goddes~ in particular and magnolias in Veitch. In 1913 Sir Harry Veitch sold general. Eventually J C. Williams distnbuted seedlings fairly widely. Some of these have been disappointing and were possibly hybrids; others have been as good. and in some cases improvements, if that is possible, yielding flowers of a deeper colour. Outstanding amongst these is one growing at Copeland Court, now a part of Truro Cathedral School. Although Lord Aberconway of Bodnant had some plants of the same seed lot. none of these turned out to be the same I'orm as Diva. nor did those at Kew. Ironically, a seedling thought to have come from the tree at Caerhays and planted at Bodnant produced an excellent flower and has been given the cultivar name Claret Cup. It received a RHS award of ment in 1963.

Smithers'. M sprengeri var. elongaia All other plants from the same seed lot that produced var. diva gave rise to a much less spectacular variety. subsequently Magnolia 'Charles Coares' in Sir named M. sprengeri var. elongaia. Peter i garden in Sit ii=erland. Original plants of this still exist at Bodnant and Kew. George Johnstone discerned two forms amongst these plants —pure white flowers and cream. Lord Aberconway wrote in l940: "It has flowers of the shape but not quite the quality of M. conspictur fdenudarafheprapara) and differs in being a real tree with no tendency to form a bush. It is a very fine magnolia. '"' For a masterly account of the problems that still surround the M. spengeri varieties, there is a fine article by Philip J. Savage Jr, in the Newsletter of the American Magnolia Society (now MacttouA) vol. 6 No. 2. Nov. I 969. M sinensis seed was collected by Magnolia campbellii var. Wilson in 1908. The resulting seedlings mollicomata ar Dumbarron, Scotland. were sent from Arnold to Chenault for However Johnstonet propagation. However, before 1930 this George and H. G. Hillier Lancaster' magnolia was sent out as M. and Roy consider it to be a form wilsonii; nichofsontdna; to add to the confusion, of this opinion is supported Dr. Stephen this name was originally given to a by Spongberg', but Nigel Holmans, who magnolia now known as M. wilsonii. considers M. highdownensis a better M. sinensis is easily raised from seed plant than either of its supposed feels and flowers when about five to seven parents. it be a form years of age. It grows as a rather may of M. sinensis. I have so far not found a plant wilsvnii sprawling shrubby tree in quite a of M. var. m'rholsoniana. It is possible there number of woodland gardens, and will thrive on a chalk soil. were some of these at Kew, and that they died out. M. «ilsonii is a lovely wilsonii. Like M. sinensis it M. magnolia and one of my favourites but readily seed and indeed is grows from it does not seem to be very long lived. the only magnolia I know of that sows itself in British woodland gardens. The There are many problems concerning original cultivated plants distributed, the Wilson Magnolias. a few mention- were grafted ones from Chenault. It ed here. In some cases herbarium appears to have been improved in material is scanty and incomplete. The cultivation by a process of garden likelihood is that only further selection, many seedling forms being collections in China will provide better better than one grown at Borde Hill, answers and such collecting has been which was certainly raised from seed impossible for many years. Recent collected in China. It is fairly widely changes, however, raise hope of a time grown in woodland gardens. A form when wide ranging collections of with double flowers, a Caerhays material can eventually be made and seedling, grows at Wakehurst Place, these problems can be resolved. Sussex. M. x highdownensis resulted from some unlabelled seedlings from Wilson tramped many weary miles in Caerhays grown on by the late Sir rain and mist, unable to see farther Frederick Sterne at Highdown. It is than a few yards. Having travelled over generally thought to be a hybrid terrain in East Nepal similar to that of between M. sinensis and M. wilsonii. the gorges in Western China. I know

35 how difficult it is to move very far off and rest. The bus zig-zagged up the hill an established track. It may not be too on crescent-shaped streets and suddenly much to hope, therefore, that there just the driver announced: 'Botanical might be another magnolia or two Gardens!' So off I went. I entered waiting to be discovered, unknown, as through a small wooden gate almost yet, to the West. hidden by and trees in a wooded area. . . There was no fee. was there a gift shop, tearoom, Brian Savage gardens ar his home in Neither or any other sign of commercial H orcester and has visited widelr activity —just a sense of peaceful quiet. among gardens in the Brnish Isles and "The Bath gardens were on a gently elsewhere. sloping southern exposure with small References knolls and valleys where streams I. Pratt, Antwerp E. , To the Snows of leveled off occasionally into little pools, Tibet through China. edged with maples, ferns. lilies, and 2. Spongberg. Dr. Stephen A. , J Arnold much more. Arboretum 57, (3), 1976. "The for the 3 Moore. A, in Gardeners Chronicle. 3rd Magnolias, soulangianas Senes, 1947 121-232. most part. were very large old 4 Jnbnstone. George. in Camellias and specimens. beautifully spaced, some Magnobas Conf. Report. 1950. RHS. with 40-foot spread. Their long 5 Johnstone, George. Asiatic Magnottas branches, horizontally sweeping the m Cultivation 1955 lawn, were so low and thick it was 1973. 6. Holman, Nigel. in Rbododendrons. impossible to get inside the perimeter. ' RHS There were several; 'Alba, pure white, 7. Hillier, H. G. and Lancaster, C. R. , in , others white with pale pink base, and Rbododendrons with Camellia' and ' 'Alexandrina, white with narrower Magnolias. 1976. RHS. 'Alba. ' 8. Millais, J.G. . Magnolias. 1927 tepals and smaller blooms than I the larger and older the 9. Bean, W. . . Trees and Shrubs Hardy i n the True, guess, British Isles. 11th Ed. 1973. tree. the smaller the blooms. An ' 10. Treseder, Neil, Magnobas. 197K exception was 'Lennei, with large 11. Aberconway. l. ord, m J. RHS iol. 75. blossoms, dark rose outside and pale 1950. pink inside, All the soulangianas 12. Aberconway. Lord. in J. RHS sol. 65. seemed much lighter hued and with 1940. smaller blossoms than here in California. M. IiltfIora nigra was also in this grouping a lovely contrast with its dark purple against the paler pinks The Gardens at Bath and whites. To stand there on the lawn, and see one enormous mass of "Bath, England, held the unexpected color silhouetted against another and jewel. We arrived in the middle of the then another was breathtaking —for morning and the driver dropped us in they were all at their peak. It was the center of town. . . After lunch, most beautifully maintained not a gardener of the group went to see the old or maintenance" man or a litter box in Roman baths. but I felt a cold coming sight. Katherine Hinman in a on so decided to return to the hotel Round Robin letter.

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