j\V1ERICANI IORTICULTURISf DECEMBER 1981 /
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WINDOWSILL GARDENS Grafton, New Hampshire 03240 #1ERICAN HORfICULTURIST DECEMBER 1981
FEATURES COLUMNS
Camellias in Containers 16 Guest Editorial: Lessons We Can Learn Text and Photography by Anthony DeBlasi from Chelsea 2 A. St. Clair Wright Book Reviews 4 Gilbert S. Daniels Pronunciation Guide 8 Strange Relatives: The Cashew Family 9 Jane Steffey The Herb Garden: Thyme 13 Betty Ann Laws
The Gotelli Dwarf Conifer Collection 20 Text by Steve Bender Photography by Barbara W. Ellis Hoyas 24 Text by Steven Heintze Kathleen Meserve's Blue Hollies 29 Text by Steve Bender
Plants for the Pacific Northwest: Flowering Trees 38 Dr. Robert L. Ticknor Gardener's Marketplace 42 Index 44
ON THE COVER: Frost on a maple leaf pho tographed near Oakville, Washington. Photo graph by Pat O'Hara.
American Horticulturist 1 VOLUME 60 NUMBER 12 GUEST EDITORIAL
Judy Powell EDITOR Rebecca K. McClimans ART DIRECTOR LEssoNS WE CAN lEARN Barbara W. Ellis ASSOCIATE EDITOR Steven H. Davis FROM CHEI SPA Jane Steffey EDITORIAL ASSIST ANTS H. Marc Cathey Gilbert S. Daniels Donald Wyman n retrospect, the Chelsea Flower Show HORTICULTURAL CONSULTANTS emerges as the quintessence of the Gilbert S. Daniels I distinctive qualities of English gar- BOOK EDITOR dens. The enjoyment of that perfection is Louise Baughn not diminished by the lingering envy left Cindy Weakland in the mind of this American visitor. Per ASSIST ANTS TO THE EDITOR fect flowers, distinguished landscapes, va May Lin Roscoe riety of plant forms and nature's biological BUSINESS MANAGER clocks adjusted to the plantsman's time Dorothy Sowerby table are spectacles to please any garden EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS COORDINATOR enthusiast. To delight the designer's eye were har Susan J. Elliott MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION monious compositions where texture and SERVICE tone of small leaved plants were compli John Simmons - Chromagraphics Inc. mented by bold accents of Gunnera yar PRODUCTION COORDINATION ricatio, Rheum palmatum 'Bowles Crim COLOR SEPARATIONS son' or cultivars of Phormium. Subtle color C. Lynn Coy Associates Inc. ranges of grey and cream foliaged plants, 104 East 40th Street, Suite 401 ballotas and glauciums were accented by New York, NY 10016 (212) 687-0191 white and chartreuse flowers and foliage. ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Most striking of all were the sophisticated Replacement Issues of AMERICAN monochromatic color schemes where plums HORTICULTURIST are available at a and russets from the red spectrum suc done, for no matter how suitable these cost of $2.50 per copy. cessfully muted the brilliance of azaleas plants are to climatic conditions here, they The opinions expressed in the articles and rhododendrons. Even poinsettias are not to be found in our nursery catalogs. that appear in AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST are those of the gained new distinction displayed with Travel America and all too often one authors and are not necessarily those of calceolarias and red and orange crotons. sees beautifully landscaped plans marred the Society. They are presented as I was pleased to see the repetition of by commonplace plant material. In this contributions to contemporary thought. form and color, the respect for scale, the country in spring, nature's lovely variety Manuscripts, art work and photographs sent for possible publication will be skillfully arranged plant borders, the con translates to an endless repetition of such returned if they are accompanied by a trasts of light and dark foliage at Chelsea. unrelated shrub forms as abelias, forsythia self-addressed, stamped envelope. The careful balance of bold accent plants and clashing hues of azaleas and rhodod AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST is the against those of delicate foliage were com endrons unhappily placed in mulches of official publication of The American posed with an artist's eye. Although one bark or gravel. And, to the designer'S an Horticultural Society, P.O. Box 6118, becomes accustomed to such landscaping guish, often bordered with 'King Alfred' 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22308, (703) 768-5700, and is delights in British gardens such as Sissin daffodils. Have gardeners been oversold issued monthly. Membership in the ghurst with its white garden, the lovely on a spring limited to mass produced con Society includes a subscription to Hidcote and Wisley's fine display, the tainer grown products, or summers of AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. Chelsea Show, with its closely massed market pack petunias, marigolds, impa Membership dues start at $20.00 a year, exhibits, brings the skill of the British tiens and zinnias, or autumns of pyracan $12.00 of which is designated for AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. horticulturists and designers into sharp thas, chrysanthemums and ageratums? Copyright © 1981 by The American est focus. Flower arrangers are blessed with exotics Horticultural Society. ISSN 0096-4417. Many garden components such as these of all kinds -gorgeous Pro tea caffra and Second-class postage paid at Alexandria, can well be adapted to America. Indeed, Strelitzia reginae from South Africa, aroids Virginia and at additional mailing now that gardens are smaller, vistas are of all kinds from Hawaii, lilies and nar offices. Postmaster: Please send Form 3579 to AMERICAN often viewed from house windows and cissus from Israel. The abundance of house HORTICULTURIST, Mount Vernon, beauty is desirable at every season, Amer plants is also amazing. Why then are un Virginia 22121. icans would find new delights in gardens usual plants for gardens disappearing from Member of Society of National designed for color and plant form. Ad the nursery trade? Should there not be a Association Publications mittedly, such a plan is easier said than Continued on page 45
2 December 1981 Discover some ofthe rares~ mogexoticoffhids ~~~Utt~" ~ Orchids of in the world Africa Introducing the enchanting wonders of Mrican orchids by the world's leading authorities- I Orchidsof
Africa ]. ScCW:lrr ",.) E. EI-k:nfl <':ss), by Joyce Stewart and Esme Hennessy I
Unusual in nature and form, the exotic African species differ from familiar American and Asian orchids and require special care in cultivation. Here at last are the flowers, plants, and habitats of Africa's native orchids - with advice in their culture, propagation, and hybridization.
• 50 exquisite, full-color portraits, most reproduced life size • 60 line drawings • Notes on culture, propagation, and hybridization • Authoritative botanical descriptions of flowers and plants • Complete list of currently recognized genera • Glossary and bibliography • Large format: 9Ys " x 131'8"
"ORCHIDS OF AFRICA truly expresses the beauty 0/ African orchids . .. and will be a treasure/or all time." - Rebecca Tyson Northen
"I am very choosy about the books that I purchase/or my own library. This is one that I intend to acquire. " - Dr. Calaway Dodson, Director, Marie Selby Botanical Garden
ORCHIDS OF AFRICA by Joyce Stewart and Esme Hennessy $50.00 at bookstores or mail this coupon for prompt delivery
Please rush me __ copies of ORCHIDS OF AFRICA. My remittance of $ 50. 00 per copy is enclosed. I understand that I may return the book within 15 days of receipt for a full refund if I am not 100% satisfied.
Send order to: Name ~~ Houghton Mifflin Address Reference Division 2 Park Street City State Zip Boston, MA 02107 THE OXFORD ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TREES OF THE WORLD. Bayard Hora (editor). Oxford University Press. Oxford and New York. 1981. 288 pages; hardbound, $24.95. AHS discount price, $21.50 including postage -- and handling Enjoy L solar I benefits with a Janco Greenhouse. This beautifully produced book is lavishly illustrated with colort~ d drawings and pho All Janco models now available with your tograpAs. It is written in a popular style choice of regular or factory-sealed in but with scientific precision so that it serves sulated glass. equally well as a textbook or as an intro Add solar warmth to your home and in duction to trees for the general reader. One crease your living area with a Janc0lean to, or make a Janco free-standing hundred and forty-nine genera of trees greenhouse the pleasure center of your (including all genera of conifers) are de lawn. Your Janco agent can help you scribed. History, economic importance and choose the best model for your site, and horticultural value are discussed along with advise you on the advantages of heat brief botanical descriptions of the more retentive insulated glass. ~very Janco is all-aluminum for minimum maintenance. important species. Selection of genera in cluded seems to be based on Aorticultural Think Janco when you think "greenhouse." Write for FREE importance, as whole families of impor 48-pg. full-color catalog today! tant timber trees such as the dipterocarps excellent example of the very useful type of southeast Asia are almost completely of planting guide that local gardeners can Janco Greenhouses ignored. prepare for their own cities. Fifty pages of Dept. AH-12 lists of trees for special applications and 9390 Davis Avenue THE COLORFUL BROMELIADS Laurel, Md. 20707 conditions are followed by another 50 pages +(301) 498-5700 THEIR INFINITE VARIETY. of descriptions of individual species. The Victoria Padilla. The Bromeliad Society, descriptions are structural, not botanical, Inc. Los Angeles, California. 1981. 112 and both good and bad features are high pages; hardbound, $17.50. lighted. Where superior cultivars are avail able they are also described. Trees to be Popular works on bromeliads are rela recommended and trees to be avoided are tively rare and always welcome. While not . . . by Aztec included with reasons given in each case . really a continuation of the author's earlier If your city has a climate similar to Dayton, book on the same subject, this new work Ohio, this could be a very useful book for might best be considered an expansion of city planning or planting your own yard. that earlier volume. When Bromeliads was If your climate is different, get a copy of published in 1973, only about 450 species this book and use it for a model in pre and hybrids were available to the collector. paring your own local guide. With the continuing popularity of these exotic plants, Miss Padilla estimates that there are now more than 1,600 varieties ON SCHEDULE Uses 50 watts of bromeliads in cultivation. This book - 1.2 KWH in 24 hours. pres(mts some 130 of the lesser known No Maintenance. cultivated bromeliads in beautiful colored THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL photographs along with brief descriptions GARDEN ILLUSTRATED Warms like the sun. Portable, versatile and cultural information. For the ad ENCYCLOPEDIA OF - 12" x 18" x 3/4"; weighs 2·1/2 Ibs. Allowing 5" distance from plant, heater vanced collector or the beginner grower, HORTICULTURE. may be placed under, affixed to wall or this is a book worth having. Thomas H. Everett. Garland Publishing, suspended. Replacement guarantee if fails due to defective workmanship or Inc. New York. 1981 . 10 volumes; materials within one year. TREE SPECIES SELECTOR AND hardbound, $472.50, the set. PLANTING GUIDE FOR THE Three colors: Green, Gray, Grained Volume Six of this new, major encyclo URBAN DA YTON AREA. Walnut. Price: $13.95 plus $2 handling! pedia was received in September. In any delivery. Mary Earl Rogers (editor). Tree Books. major effort such as this, which is origi Dayton, Ohio. 1981. 108 pages; spiral Send for complete descriptive brochure, nally published serially, it is always a bound, $10.00 ($6.00 can be claimed as "SunGro." pleasure to announce that the appearance a tax-deductible contribution). of successive volumes is still on schedule. MEDALLION PRODUCTS Although of restricted local interest, this Volume Six covers Idria to Mandevilla, P. O. Box 1702 book is being reviewed because it is an pages 1,777 to 2,130. Alexandria, Va. 22313
4 December 1981 ~ (J-/lb if~ Jt/i-America ~ JeIecttmv ~& «~if0~JJ
The renowned American porcelain artist Edward Marshall Preferred Reservation Form-Please respond by: March 28, 1982 Boehm was so inspired by the elegant majesty of roses that TO : The Hamilton Collection. 1 Charter Plaza . P.O. Box 2567, Jacksonville. FL 32203 he kept a magnificent garden just so he could study and Please accept my reservation for THE LOVE ROSE, first iA an annual series of bone enjoy their delicate blooms. china collector plates from the Edward Marshall Boehm Studio, created to honor an And now with this distinguished first issue from the All-America Rose Selection variety each year . The original issue price for THE LOV'" 60ehm Studio, "The Love Rose" will premiere an annual ROSE is $62.50, payable in two equal installments with the first installment due prior series featuring Grandiflora All-America Rose Selections. to shipment. A specimen of beauty and enduring character, "The Love I prefer to pay for my plate as fol lows : Rose" combines velvety blush-red petals with snowy white o With my order. I have enclosed my initial payment of $31 .25' undersides for a fresh, romantic appearance. o By credit card. Charge $31 .25' to my c ~ ed i t card (check one only): This elegant plate deserves an honored place in any home ___ Master Card ___ Visa ___ American Express Expire . collection . .. to grace a table or as an impressive accent My full account number is : ______Date _____ piece on the wall, book shelf or etagere. A year-round tribute to the glory of roses! Signature ______Charge orders must be signed to be valid. 0085 Early Application is Recommended 'Florida residents please add $1 .25 sales tax. Because of the universal appeal of the "Love Rose" 'Illinois residents please add $1.87 sales tax. subject and the impeccable credentials of this new limited Name edition from Boehm, it is suggested that you make applica tion promptly to avoid disappointment. Original first issue Address subscribers will be guaranteed notification of the City State Zip ______succeeding annual issues. All applications are subiect to acceptance by The Hamilton Collection. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery. HC-332-E 743 IRS Approves BOOK REVIEWS CONT'D
40% Tax Credit! EARTHLY PLEASURES-TALES by the science editor of that magazine, the WASHINGTON, D.C., April21, FROM A BIOLOGIST'S GARDEN. subjects are gardening and nature. The often 1981. The IRS informed a Mich Roger B. Swain. Charles Scribner's Sons. unusual approach to a given subject is igan family that their proposed New York. 1981. ,198 pages; use of a Vegetable Factory Solar delightful reading and each essay is Structure and accessories quali hardbound, $10.95. AHS discount price, crammed with unusual facts. For pleasant fied them for the 40 % Energy $8.90 including postage and handling. winter reading, when you can't work in Tax Credit ... to be subtracted This is a collection of 21 essays that orig your own garden, Roger Swain's way with directly from their tax bill. inally appeared in Horticulture. Written words makes his book worth looking into.
INDOOR PLANTS
AGE NICOLAISEN THE MINIATURE The Pocket Encyclopaedia of PALi\'1S OF JAPAN The '~oiar gre~~h~usethat InDOOR ,PLAnTS helps heat your home. While this was a private letter ruling, not to be cited as prec edent, it reflects the latest IRS thinking. (Many states offer ad ded tax credits, up to 55 % !) SEND $2 FOR COLOR BROCHURE .AND A COPY OF IRS RULING
VEGETABLE FACTORY. INC. P.O. Box 2235 , Dept. A 106 New York , NY 10163
The SUN THE POCKET ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF individual species. A good buy for the M INDOOR PLANTS IN COLOUR. beginner. TUNNEt Age Nicolaisen. Blandford Press. Poole, Indoor Plants is illustrated with excel "Cloche Concept" for Dorset, England. 1981. 269 pages; lent full-page colored photographs, and each Flowers & Vegetables paperbound, $6.95. AHS discount price, facing page gives descriptions of some of . ~-~ 6.00 including postage and handling . the more popular species and cultivars of INDOOR PLANTS-A POPULAR each plant, together with specific cultural GUIDE. instructions. This is a good book for the Brian Proudly and Valerie Proudly. more advanced beginner, both to stimulate Blandford Press. Poole, Dorset, interest in a wider variety of house plants England. 1981. 176 pages; hardbound, and to provide good cultural information • LARGE 14 ft. x 4 «. $14.95. AHS discount price, $11.75 on each species . growing area postpaid including postage and handling. Miniature Palms is devoted entirely to THE MINIATURE PALMS OF JAPAN. the varieties and pot culture of dwarf Rhapis Extends growing season Yoshihiro Okita and J. Leland palms. This is a specialist's book. Only a Protects from frost Hollenberg. Weatherhill. New York. very few of the many cultivars of Rhapis Creates a growth promoting climate 1981. 140 pages; hardbound, $19.95. Holds sun warmth - traps moisture that are recognized by the Japanese are Adjusts to allow proper air flow AHS discount price, $17.50 including known in this country, and the prices which postage and handling. these rare varieties bring will discourage Rounded tunnel design resists wind. Compact storage. F-onable. Reusable. all but the most avid enthusiast from hav Easy Installation. The Pocket Encyclopaedia is a good be ing even one plant in his collection. Al
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED ginner's book on house plants. Ten pages though growing palms is in itself a spe Order today for prompt delivery! are devoted to a brief but adequate general cialized horticultural activity, the pot culture Mastercard or Visa accepted culture guide, 129 pages present a series of Rhapis cultivars is a. speciality within Call 914-679-5224 of well drawn colored illustrations of typ a speciality. For that ultra-specialist, or send check to : ical nature specimens of the most popular however, this book gives the complete KB Masterworks I Ltd. plants, and the remainder of the book picture of the Japanese art of growing 677 Maverick Road Woodstock, NY 12498 is devoted to cultural instructions tor kansochiku.
6 December 1981 THE MUSHROOM HUNTER'S OF REGIONAL INTEREST FIELD GUIDE (3rd Edition). Alexander H. Smith and Nancy Smith GARDENS FOR ALASKANS. only alternative during the Alaskan winter, Weber. The University of Michigan Lenore Hedla. Anchorage, Alaska. 1981. and vegetable gardening, are two new Press. Ann Arbor, 1980.316 pages; 157 pages; paperbound, $8.95. AHS chapters not in the original edition. hardbound, $14.95. AHS discount price, discount price, $8.05 including postage Winter Twigs is a guide for the identi $12.80 including postage and handling. and handling. fication of Arkansas trees and shrubs by This latest edition of an already excellent WINTER TWIGS OF ARKANSAS. their structural details and their dormant field guide has been further improved by G. Thomas Clark. Rose Publishing Co. , buds. Maps show the distribution of each illustrating all of the 282 species that are Little Rock, Arkansas. 1981. 93 pages; species within the state, but many of the described with colored photographs. Spe paperbound, $13.95. AHS discount species are common far beyond the bor cifically about the mushrooms of North price, $13.80 including postage and ders of Arkansas. Anyone in the north America, the excellent identification keys handling. eastern or northcentral states who is in are simple and easy to use, and the indi MISSISSIPPI WILDFLOWERS. terested in winter identification of native vidual species descriptions and the clear Lucile Parker. Pelican Publishing Co. woody plants will find this a helpful and color photographs are further aids that Gretna, Louisiana. 1981. 30 pages plus easy to use field guide. should allow anyone to make reasonably 117 plates; hardbound, $29.95. AHS Mississippi Wildflowers is a collection accurate identifications of wild mush discount, $25.25 including postage and of botanically accurate and attractive wa rooms. The edibility or lack thereof is also handling. tercolors of 117 Mississippi native plants. discussed for each species. Whether you TREES AND SHRUBS OF THE Although the accompanying descriptions are picking mushrooms to eat, or simply SOUTHWESTERN DESERTS (3 rd are quite brief, the information on flow want to identify the many strange and Edition). ering and fruiting time is useful. beautiful mushrooms yo u find on walks Lyman Benson and Robert A. Darrow. Trees and Shrubs of the Southwestern through the woods, this field guide is highly University of Arizona Press. Tucson. Deserts is a major botanical work covering recommended. 1981.416 pages; hardbound, $49.50. the woody flora of those states (mostly AHS discount price, $46.45 including bordering on Mexico) that are famous for SUCCULENT FLORA OF postage and handling. their deserts. The more northerly desert SOUTHERN AFRICA. Gardening in Alaska is as different from areas such as the Great Basin region are Doreen Court. A.A. Balkema. gardening in the lower forty-eight states not included. A series of keys for families, Rotterdam. 1981. 224 pages; as gardening in the U.S. is from gardening genera and species, together with good hardbound, $39.50. AHS discount price, in England. Here is a down-to-earth be descriptions and line illustrations, provide $32.85 including postage and handling. ginner's guide to all aspects of gardening a means of positive identification for all For growers and collectors of succulent throughout Alaska. It is also a book about woody species in the region. Photographs plants, the southern half of the continent Alaskan gardeners, for the many photo and distribution maps are also given for of Africa is an area of major interest. This graphs show Alaskan gardeners at work many species. If you are interested in the book reviews the succulent flora of that (or play) in their own varied and individual flora of the southwestern deserts, this is area and is intended for the professional gardens. Indoor gardening, which is the an essential reference work. botanist and the serious amateur. All ma jor genera in nine predominantly succulent plant families are discussed; in many gen AHS BOOK ORDER FORM':":' era, large numbers of species are described with the specific intent of differentiating Ship to: ______between similar species. Species descrip tions are grouped by morphological sim Street: ______ilarity and geographic distribution. Of particular value are the discussions of no City: ______State ___ _ Zip ______menclatural changes. For the ever con Enclosed is my check for ____book s in the amount o f ______fused horticulturist, the names are as up to date and correct as is possible. This is Price Includes Postage not a gardening book, but a basic reference ____Th e Oxford Encyclopedia o f Trees of the World ...... $2 1.5 0 ____Th e Colorful Bromeliads- Their Infinite Variety ...... 18.75 work that brings together the latest infor _ ___Th e New York Botani cal Garden Encyclopedia of Horriculture ...... 472.50 mation that would otherwise only be avail ____Earthl y Pl easures-Tales of a Biologist's Garden ...... 8.90 ____ Tree Species Se lector and Pla nting Guide ...... 11.25 able in the many scattered journals that _ ___Th e Pocket Encyclopaedi a of Indoor Pl ants in Colour...... 6.00 cover the field. fl _ ___The Miniature Palm s o f Japan...... 17.50 ____Th e Mushroom Hunter's Field Guide...... 12.80 - Gilbert S. Daniels _ ___Succul ent Fl ora of Southern Africa...... 32.85 ____G ardens for Alaskans ...... 13 .80 ___~Mi ss i ss ippi Wildflowers ...... 25.25 _ ___Tre es and Shrubs of the Southwestern Deserts ...... 46.45
Gi lbert S. Daniels is the President of the ..... Virginia residents, add 4 % sales tax. Make checks payable to rhe American Horticultural Society. Send book orders to (he American Horticultural Society. arremion of Dorothy Sams, AHS, Moum Vernon, VA 22121. Please allow six wee ks for delivery.
American Horticulturist 7 JRONUNC~TIONC:UD~E------__
Guide to Botanical Names in This Issue Diervilla lonicera Phormium FORM-ee-um dy-er-VIL-ah 10-NISS-er-ah Picea pungens PY-see-ah PUN-jinz The accent, or emphasis, falls on the Gunnera yarricatio Pinus wallichiana syllable which appears in capital letters. The GUN-er-ah yare-i-KA Y-tee-o vowels which you see standing alone are PY-nus wa-lick-ee-A Y-na pronounced as follows: Harpephyllun caffi'um Pistacia chinensis i-short sound; sounds like i in "hit" har-pi-FY-lum KAFF-rum pis-TACK-ee-ah chi-NEN-sis o--long sound; sounds like 0 in "snow" Hoya bella HOY-ah BELL-ah Pistacia lentiscus a-long sound; sounds like a in 'hay". Hoya carnosa HOY-ah car-NO-sa pis-TACK-ee-ah len-TIS-kus Hoya diversiloba Pistacia terebinthus Abies chensiensis HOY-ah dy-vers-i-LO-ba pis-TACK-ee-ah tear-eh-BIN-thuss A-beez chin-see-EN-sis Hoya engleriana Pistacia vera pis-TACK-ee-ah VER-ah Acer palmatum A-ser pal-MA Y-tam HOY-ah eng-gler-i-AN-ah Protea caffra PRO-tee-ah KAFF-ra Aesculus X carnea Hoya imperialis Prunus cerasifera ESS-kew-lus CAR-nee-ah HOY-ah im-peer-ee-A YL-iss PRUNE-us ser-ah-SIFF-er-ah Albizia ;ulibrissin Hoya keysii HOY-ah KEYS-ee-eye Prunus serrulata al-BIZ-ee-ah jew-li-BRISS-en Hoya lacunosa HOY-ah lac-oo-NO-sa PRUN-us ser-rew-LA Y-ta Anacardium occidentale Hoya linearis HOY-ah lin-ee-AIR-iss Prunus subhirtella an-ah-CAR-dee-um ock-si-den-TA Y-lee Hoya macgillivrayi PRUN-us sub-her-TELL-ah Arbutus unedo ar-BEW-rus you-NA Y-doe HOY-ah mack-GILL-i-vIay-eye Pyrus calleryana Asclepias ass-KLEE-pee-us Hoya macrophylla PY-rus kall-er-ee-A-na Bergenia cordifolia HOY-ah mack-ro-FILL-ah Rheum palmatum REE-um pal-MA Y-tum BER-gen-ee-ah cor-di-FO-lee-ah Hoya multiflora Rhus copallina ROOS ko-pa-L Y-na Camellia chrysantha HOY-ah mul-tee-FLOR-ah Rhus diversiloba ROOS dy-vers-i-LO-ba ka-MEAL-ya cry-SAN-tta Hoya pausiflora HOY-ah paw-si-FLOR-ah Rhus glabra ROOS GLA Y-bra Camellia ;aponica Hypericum hy-PEAR-i-kum Rhus integrifolia ka-MEAL-ya ja-PON-i-ka Ilex aquifolium ROOS in-teg-ri-FO-lee-ah Camellia lutchuensis EYE-lex ak-qui-FOL-ee-um Rhus laurina ROOS law-RY-na ka-MEAL-ya loo-chew-EN-sis Ilex X meserveae EYE-lex me-SERV-ee-ee Rhus microphylla ROGS my-kro-F1LL-ah Camellia reticulata Ilex opaea EYE-lex o-PAY-ca Rhus ovata ROOS o-VAY-ta ka-MEAL-ya re-tick-yew-LA Y-ta Ilex rugosa EYE-lex rew-GO-sa Rhus radicans ROOS RAD-i-kanz Camellia sinensis Juniperus chinensis Rhus succedanea ka-MEAL-ya sy-NEN-sis jew-NIP-er-us chi-NEN-sis ROOS suck-se-DA Y-nee -ah Caragana aborescens Juniperus conferta Rhus toxicodendron kar-a-GAN-ah ar-bo-RESS-ens jew-NIP-er-us kon-FER-ta ROOS tox-i-co-DEN-dron Catalpa bignonioides Juniperus horizontalis Rhus typhina ROOS ty-FY-na ka-TAL-pa big-non-ee-o-EYE-deez jew-NIP-er-us hor-i-zon-TA Y-liss Rhus verniciflua Cedrus atlantica SEE-drus at-LAN-ti-ka Juniperus virginiana ROOS ver-niss-i-FLEW-ah Cedrus deodara SEE-drus dee-o-DA Y-ra jew-NIP-er-us ver-jin-ee-A-na Rhus vernix ROOS VER-nix Cercis SIR-sis Koelreuteria paniculata Rodgersia ROD-jers-ee-ah Chaenomeles kee-NOM-el-eez kol-rew-TERE-ee-ah pan-ick-yew-LA Y-ta Schinus molle SHY-nus MO-lay Chamaecyparis obtusa Laburnum X watereri Schinus terebinthifolius kam-ee-SIP-er-iss ('lb-TOO-sa la-BUR-num WA-ter-er-eye SHY-nus tere-i-bin-thi-FO-lee-us Chamaecyparis pisifera Lagerstroemia indica Spiraea spy-REE-ah kam-ee-SIP-er-iss pi-SIFF-er-ah la-ger-STROME-ee-ah IN-di-ka Spondias cytherea Cladrastis lutea Ligularia dentata SPON-de-as sy-THER-ee-ah kla-DRASS-tiss LOO-tee-ah lig-u-LAIR-ee-ah den-TA Y -ta Spondias dulcis SPON-de-as DULL-sis Cornus florida KOR-nus FLOR-i-da Macleaya cordata Spondias mombin SPON-de-as MOM-bin Cornus kousa KOR-nus KOO-sa MACK-lee-ah cor-DA Y-ah Spondias purpurea Cornus nuttallii Magnolia campbellii subsp. mollicomata SPON-de-as per-per-E-ah KOR-nus nah-TAL-ee-eye mag-NOL-ya camp-BELL-ee-eye Stewartia pseudocamellia Corylopsis sinensis mol-i-ko-MA Y-ta stew-ART-ee-ah SUE-do-ka-MEAL-ya kor-ee-LOP-sis sy-NEN-sis Magnolia grandiflora Strelitzia reginae Cotinus coggygria l,Ilag-NOL-ya grand-i-FLOR-ah stre-LITZ-ee-ah re-JIN-ee ko-TY-nus ko-JY-gree-ah Magnolia X [oebneri Styrax japonicus STY-rax ja-PON-i-kus Cotinus obovatus ko-TY -nus ob-o-V AY -tus mag-NOL-ya lobe-NER-eye Styrax obassia STY-rax o-BASS-ee-ah Cotoneaster ko-TOE-nee-ass-ter Magnolia X soulangiana Syringa reticulata Crataegus laevigata mag-NOL-ya sue-lan-gee-A-na si-RING-ga re-tick-yew-LA Y-ta cra-TEE-gus lee-vi-GA Y -ta Malus X atrosanquinea Thu;a occidentalis Cryptomeria krip-toe-MEER·ee-ah MAL-us at-tro-san-GWIN-ee-ah THOO-ja ocks-i-den-TAY-liss Cyrilla racemiflora Malus floribunda MAL-us flor-i-BUN-da Thymus vulgaris si-RILL-ah ray-si-mi-FLOR-ah Mangifera indica THY-musfTY-mus vul-GA Y-riss Daphne genkwa DAFF-ne JENK-wa man-JIFF-er-ah IN-di-ka Vaccinium vack-SIN-ee-um Daphne odora DAFF-ne o-DOOR-ah Oxydendrum arboreum Verbascum ver-BASS-kum Davidia involucrata ob-ee-DEN-dftlm ar-BOR-ee-um Yucca filamentosa day-VID-ee-ah in-vol-yew-KRA Y-ta Petasites pet-ah-SY -teez YUCK-ah fil-i-men-TOE-sa
8 December 1981 STRANGE RELATIVES lHE CAsHEW FAMllY
ut of Kansas toward the end of the 19th century came a prairie youth O who was destined to become one of the great modern plant explorers. He traveled far and wide for the U.S. De partment of Agriculture to collect plants that might have potential as profitable crops for American farmers. One of his personal interests was introducing tropical fruits and educating American palates to savor the fruits that delighted him. His name was David Fairchild, and his enthusiasm for the "apple of the tropics" established his reputation as a mangophile, for the name of his favorite fruit was mango, Mangifera indica. The books he wrote about his life, his travels and his retirement home abound in tales of collecting, growing and eating mangos, "one of the most gorgeous of all the fruits in the world." This "apple of the tropics" is a member of a plant family that also includes poison Mangifera indica Anacardium occidentale ivy. It is the cashew family, Anacardiaceae. Its members are known in both tropical in dramatic clusters of hundreds of blos S. purpurea is the red or purple mombin and temperate zones and include species soms, are followed by fragrant fruits of or Spanish plum; another tropical Amer that provide edible fruits and nuts, orna variable color and size depending on the ican, it produces a spicy, nearly acid fruit, mental landscape qualities, tannin and lac cultivar, each suspended from its branch which is eaten fresh or boiled or sometimes quer and plants that exude painful or toxic like a pendulum. For more information dried. irritants. The family even contains a plant about mango culture in the United States Dr. Fairchild's notebooks confirm that used in the making of space rocket lubri and the cultivars available to American he experimented with the Kaffir plum, caNts. Mangifera is by far the most im consumers, see American Horticulturist, Harpephyllum caffrum. He reported that portant genus. The mango makes it so, as Vol. 57, no. 3, Spring 1978. "the seeds sent to Florida grew well in it is widely grown and is probably the most Among the mango's cashew cousins are southern Florida and became attractive trees popular fruit in the tropics. tropical "plums" of several kinds. In frost which resisted hurricanes well, but the In th€ orient, and in India in particular, free regions, Spondias species are grown plums were disappointing." This one he man has grown mangos for 4,000 years. for their edible fruit and sometimes as or brought in from South Africa; it is suitable Centuries of selection and maintenance of namentals to provide living fences. S. cy as an evergreen ornamental in small gar the best types in tropical Asia, especially therea (S. dulcis), from Java, is widely cul dens, providing dark-red, olive-like fruit in India, have yielded many cultivars. In tivated as evidenced by its many common for use in jellies. the continental United States, mango names - ambarella, Wi tree, golden apple, The importaNce of the mango notwith growing is confined to the southern third otaheite apple. It is a 60-foot tree, the standing, the family bears the name of the of Florida because of unfavorable winters buoyant wood of which was once used to cashew nut, Anacardium occidentale. The elsewhere. Fairchild imported collections make canoes. Its egg-shaped fruit is pale cashew is an evergreen tree, native to Bra from India and other tropical countries to yellow, firm and juicy and may be eaten zil, which thrives in regions free of frost. get all the kinds he could find. Most of the fresh or made into preserves or pickles. Its is grown commercially in East Africa world's modern commercial mango cul This plum is amenable to culture in USDA and India. It is not well adapted to the tivars originated in South Florida. Many Zone lOb of Florida. climate of the United States and performs of the numerous cultivars are localized in S. mombin, the hog plum or yellow poorly where it is grown. a particular area and b@ar the names of mombin, is common in tropical America The cashew flowers in late spring and individuals or locales significant in their wh@re it is sometimes referred to as Ja fruits ripen in August. And what an as development. maican plum. It too is occasionally grown sembly of parts there is. The edible fruit, Mangifera indica is a symmetrical ever in USDA Zone lOb in Florida. The fruit known as cashew apple, is a fleshy recep green tree of medium size. The pinkish is soft, yellow, juicy and the seed likewise tacle that is fragrant, juicy and slightly white flowers, weighing down the branches is edible. astringent; it can be eaten raw or cooked;
American Horticulturist 9 STRANGE RELATIVES CONT'D Inside Gardening candies and beverages are made from it. with A kidney-shaped, hard-shell nut projects from the larger end of the apple. The nut, e~® containing the edible kernel, the cashew GREENHOUSES nut, must be roasted before shelling be cause the shell, as well as all parts of the tree, contains a caustic oil or irritant sim ilar to that found in its relative, poison ivy; even the fumes from roasting the nuts can be irritating. Ponder that when you are consuming this tasty morsel! Cashew nut-shell liquid, obtained from a spongy layer of the shell, is an oil ex Everlite answers all your needs all year tracted from the raw nut during process 'round with: ing; its high polymerizing and friction-re • Over 90 models starting at $333. • Precision prefabrication for fast ducing properties make it valuable in the assembly. • Quality engineered throughout. paint and varnish industry in the United • Full accessories line including States. It also has strategic value as a com automatic climate controls. Get the inside story .. ponent of space rocket lubricants. Write for catalog-price list AH • Call Toll Free (800) 321-3050 Pistacia is a genus of 10 species of de In Ohio (216) 251-6100 ciduous or evergreen trees and shrubs na Schinus moUe tive to the southwestern United States, Mexico, the Canary Islands and from the reach America, and contributed substan Mediterranean region to the Caucasus and tially to the interest which was being aroused Asia. One species, P. vera, native to Iran in this, one of the most delicate of all table and central Asia, is grown for its edible nuts." P. terebinthus, the Cyprus turpen seed. This is the pistachio nut or green tine, is a large shrub and the source of almond. The name pistachio is correctly tanning material and formerly the source applied only to P. vera. of turpentine. The Latin pistacia is from the Greek name P. lentiscus, the mastic tree, is cultivated for the nut -pistake. This species is much for mastic, one of the oldest known of high cultivated where it is native. The principal grade resins. Mastic, or mastich, is a resin exporters of the nuts are Turkey, Iran, exuded from incisions made in the bark; Afghanistan, Greece and Syria. it hardens into oval tears and is used to Pistacia vera thrives in long, hot sum make pale varnish for protecting metals mers but needs moderately cold winters to and oil and water color paintings. Mastic satisfy its chilling requirement. Cultivation is also an adhesive used in dental work. in the United States is centered in the Sac The cashew family also is , rich in or ramento and San Joaquin valleys of Cal nar,lental plants. ifornia where the climate is suitable. An The smoke tree, Cotinus coggygria, is a orchard must include both male and fe conspicuous shrub in a border planting male trees for nut production. The trees because of its grayish fruiting panicles from A •• " . bl•• ' yOl./fS/OfIOfJ, fldJ2SO lof '/0 , $m.1I G ••rltn Sill , 1995 lo,51b t . ... " , G"d," $'lf, 133 00 10I 2S III are wind pollinated, and male trees are which the name "wig tree" arose. Nu EII. ,.SI,. /,ncludum.",flQI. at I h. ml k" s o l ·· P I'nt S hln ~ ~ spaced throughout the orchard to take merous cultivars of this species afford gra SCHULTZ CO.-SI. Louis. MO 63043 advantage of prevailing winds. dations of the smoky effect from gray to Pistachio fruit is reddish and contains a purplish. This native of southern Europe FINE ENGLISH green or yellow edible seed. While still in and Eurasian areas has been widely planted GARDENING the shell the nuts are prepared by salting in America where it is hardy to USDA Zone Smith them in a brine. 5. The fruiting cluster, which lasts for weeks, & Hawken TOOLS Other Pistacia species yield wood, resins consists mostly of lengthened stalks of the offers the finest durable tools, and oils. P. chinensis, though deciduous, numerous sterile flowers that are plumed forged and crafted is used in Florida as a shade tree. It is also and silky and form in the mass the at by hand in England: forks, spades, shovels, used as an understock on which P. vera is tractive feature of this plant. women's tools, watering The American smoke tree, or chittam cans, hoes, rakes, trowels, grafted. Dr. Fairchild, in The World Was pruners, shears and more. My Garden, reports that when he was in wood, C. obovatus, is rare in gardens be FREE mail order Athens he was "offered some three-year cause of its large size and because female catalog of classic ~ tools. old trees which had been grafted on a re trees do not have as many fruits as C. TOOl COMPl\NY lated species called the Terebinth .... they coggygria. It is native to Tennessee, Ar 68 Homer, Dept. A22, Palo Alto, CA 94301 were the first budded pistachio trees to kansas, Missouri and west to Texas. The
10 December 1981 wood yields an orange dye; unfortunately, in the past 100 years or so stands have been depleted by cutting of many large trees for this use. Schinus species are prominent lawn and avenue trees in California and Florida. S. moile, the California pepper tree or Pe ruvian masti c, is a gracefully drooping evergreen tree. It is native to the Andes of Peru and the species name, moile, is de rived from the Peruvian vernacular, multi. Its greenish flowers are followed by red Archives of berry-like drupes . Part of the attraction of this tree is the red fruit that persists through Cocoa Research the winter; it is necessary to include both VOLUME I - 1981 male and female trees in any planting to ensure berry production. A selected series of historic research Selected publica tions on cocoa re Schinus molte was sacred to the Incas papers on cocoa, origina ll y pub search by W. E. Freeman, A. F. Pos and their predecessors. Native Indians used li shed in several languages and cur nette, F. J. Pound, H . Toxopeus every part of the plant in one form or an rently obtainable only in obscure other as medicine. A mildly alcoholic drink journals and books, will now be is made from it in Peru, and ground seeds come available in Engli sh in the Ar ch ives of Cocoa Resea rell . ARCH IVES OF COCOA RESEARCH are may be used as a condiment or as an ad joint publications of the Interna ulterant of pepper. The initial volume wi ll reprint re ports on Pound's Amazon expedi tional Office of Cocoa and Chocolate Unfortunately, S. moUe harbors the black (Brussels); The American Cocoa Re ti ons of 1938 and 1942, th e Anglo scale, a pest of citrus fruits, necessitating Colombian expedition of 1953, and search Institute (McLean, Va.) in a preventive spray schedule. Cheesman's a nalysis of cocoa clas cooperation with the Royal Tropical S. terebinthifolius is the Brazilian pepper sification. Future volumes will fea In stitute (Amsterdam). tree or Christmas-berry tree. It is less ture cocoa research in Indonesia Editor: Ir. Hille Toxopeus, graceful than S. moUe as the branches are 1900-1950 re cocoa moth podborer, Wageningen, The Netherlands not pendent. With its bright red fruit, it is He/ope/ti s and black ants; Preuss's travels in South America 1899-1901; Cooperator: Dr. R. E. Larson, very ornamental, and because the berries University Park, Pennsylvania persist through winter it is much used for Stahel's work in Surinam (Witches' Christmas decorations. It grows better in Broom disease, wi ld cocoa, vegeta tive propagation); history of cocoa Florida than S. moUe and is widely natu production in South America by ------, ralized in Florida and Hawaii. Please smd me: VOLUME I. 1981 I Erneholm, Rubio-Sanchez and The genus Rhus constitutes a large group others; and the classical papers from I of species in the cashew family; these are the former ICTA Annual reports on Ardiivesof I the sumacs, and the family is often com cocoa research. Cocoa R.eseardi I monly referred to as the sumac rather than I Price u.s. $25. 00 I cashew family. Volume I contains: Rhus species are trees, shrubs or vines (Prices quoted include postage) Reports on the two cocoa collecting native to temperate and subtropical re expeditions in thr Amazon head gions. Some are used in naturalized land PAYMENT MUST ACCOMPANY ORDER waters by F. J. Pound (1938, 1943) scapes or in formal ornamental plantings; Enclosed is my check for $ ___ along highways and byways others are Observations on cocoa on the Paria Peninsula by A. F. Posnette (1944) definitely ornamental in the wild. Still oth Namt' ers yield lacquer from the milky sap and A note on cocoa h ybridization in tannin from the leaves. And five or six are Trinidad (1957) by B. C. Montserrin Add ress known for the toxic irritant present in var Notes on the nomenclature, classifi ious parts of the plant. cation and possible relationships of Sumac's small, greenish flowers are borne cocoa populations (1945) by E. E. Slall:' in pyramidal clusters. The fruits of the Cheesman Mail to: cultivated shrubby species are small, red ROY AL TROPICAL INSTITUTE The Anglo-Colombian cocoa collect Departme nt of dish and hairy; the tight upright clusters ing expedition (1953) by R. E. D. Agricultural Research are showy and often remain all winter. Baker Mauritskade 63 Fruits of the poisonous species are white 1092 AD, Amsterdam, or yellowish berries. F. J. Pound's contributions to cocoa L ______The Netherlands J improvement by B. C . D. Bartley Throughout much of the eastern United States, the staghorn sumac, Rhus typhina,
American Horticulturist 11 STRANGE RELA llVES CONT'D
the eastern United States. All have whitish or yellowish fruit and brilliant autumn coloring. Poison oak and poison ivy are the only serious contact poisons in our native flora. The poisonous properties are due to allergic reactions to the slightly vol atile oil in the juice of the resin ducts in the leaves, flowers, fruits and bark of stems and roots. To bring the family back together again, here are some characteristics held in com mon by these strange relatives: Most are tropical and subtropical, al though a few are native in temperate climes. Leaves are alternate and usually com pound, often evergreen. Flowers are small, not ordinarily conspicuous. The fruit is fleshy and one-seeded, a drupe, but it dif fers widely in size and shape among the genera. For instance, compare the large and fleshy fruit of the mango and Spon dias, the dry and much smaller fruit of Rhus radicans Rhus and Schinus and the peculiar struc and the shining sumac, R. copallina, are ture of the cashew. highly visible, handsome components of The resinous properties of these plants roadside vegetation. Their red foliage color give them economic value; for instance, and red to reddish-brown clusters in the their use in tanning, in lacquer, in wax and fall make them outstanding. R. typhina is as a space rocket lubricant. On the other an important source of tannin. Another hand, the resinous substance exuded by eastern American native is R. glabra, the some species is poisonous. smooth or scarlet sumac. The staghorn and Commercially valuable fruits and nuts shining sumacs may become 30 to 50 foot are produced by some species, and popular trees; glabra is smaller, between 9 and 15 ornamental trees are represented in the feet. Differences in foliage texture and family also. shades of green and in the number or ar Is it any wonder that plant explorers rangement of leaflets in the compound have directed their attention to introduc leaves distinguish these shrubby species. ing members of the Anacardiaceae to en Two evergreens in this genus, of orna rich the horticulture of our country? Dr. mental value in their native California, are Fairchild's enthusiasm for the mango may the lemonade berry, R. integrifolia, and have been premature; although it is on the the laurel sumac, R. laurina. market, it is less than universally available R. microphylla, the desert sumac, is from or recognized. For example, I was not able the southwestern United States and adja to ascertain from the Fresh Fruit and Veg cent Mexico, and the evergreen sugarbush, etable Association the name of the mango R. ovata, comes from Arizona and south cultivar on supermarket produce counters ern California. in the Washington area this summer. But In Japan, R. succedanea, the wax tree, California pistachios are here, and cash is cultivated for the berries from which a ews have been long established as one of commercial wax is obtained; exudates from our choicest nuts. the stems yield a natural lacquer. The Jap Serious study of any family of plants anese lacquer tree or varnish tree is R. affords a marvellous insight into the won verniciflua, the source of Japan's famous ders and contrasts in the vegetable king black lacquer; from it is excreted an irri dom and often is an introduction to the tant still more poisonous than that from origins of plants, foods and other products species known to us for that property. whose presence in our day-to-day exist The common poisonous species of this ence we take for granted. 0 genus are poison sumac, Rhus vernix, Pa -Jane Steffey cific poison oak, R. diversiloba, poison oak of th€ East, R. toxicodendron, and poison Jane Steffey is the horticultural advisor to the ivy, R. radicans, also the common form in American Horticultural Society.
12 December 1981 THE HERB GARDEN lHYME
Thyme makes an excellent groundcover and will even grow through the cracks in a patio where its aroma will scent the air when it is occasionally crushed underfoot. hyme is one of the oldest and most fumigator. They used it in thei{ baths, as in appearance. The leaves of French thyme widely used herbs. It was culti a strewing herb, a preservative to dry fruits are narrower than common thyme; the T vated in Sumeria 3,000 years be and a germ killer to clean wine vessels. As German, wider. The plants are hardy pe fore the Christian era, grew in Aristotle's late as World War I, thymol, extracted rennials, growing to 10 inches or so in garden and was later transported to the from the oil of thyme, was used as a food height, and they sprawl considerably if not northern countries during the Roman ex preservative and as a sterilizing agent for pruned, which makes thyme appropriate pansion. Not only was it a favorite sea bandages. The Romans used thyme to fla for a rock garden. soning wherever it was taken, but herbal vor cheese and liquers. The essential growing requirements for ists recommended it to cure whooping To gardeners, thyme is the border plant thyme are sun and well-drained soil. It cough, respiratory ailments and gastric with tiny lavender blossoms and a pungent thrives in sandy, even rocky soil, does well conditions. It has been important com aroma. The bees hover around it and the in average garden loam and will even grow mercially and even today is used in per cabbage moth veers away from it. Garden in light, poor soil as long as it gets full sun. fumes, deodorants and insecticides. thyme, also known as common thyme Because the plants have widely spreading Horace, Virgil and Pliny mentioned (Thymus vulgaris), is the species most gar roots I put them on a south-facing slope thyme in their writings. The Greeks used deners plant. Its leaves are oval, grow in where I want to prevent erosion. it in soups, with game and fish, but they pairs and are about one eighth of an inch If thyme is planted in a heavy clay soil, were also aware of the sterilizing prop long. French and German thyme also be it will not develop the fragrance and flavor erties of the plant and referred to it as a long to this species, but they vary slightly for which it is prized. It will also be more
American Horticulturist 13 THE HERB GARDEN CONT'D
THE AMERICAN vulnerable to winterkill when growing Depending upon the humidity, drying HORTICULTURAL under these conditions. With wet, compact will take from one to two weeks. Properly SOCIETY soil, dig in sand and organic matter to dried leaves will make a dry, rustling sound. increase drainage and porosity. Lime or If the weather is sultry, give sprigs a final wood ashes and a little sprinkling of bone drying in the oven for an hour or so at a is delighted to offer to its members the following meal should also be added. temperature no higher than 100°F. Strip books written by the ping the stems will then be easier-just roll legendary English gardener them between your hands, letting the leaves After a number ofyears fall into a bowl. thyme begins to get woody Make the second pruning no later than and lose its good flavor. To the end of August so the plants can recover before winter comes. Another sprinkling ensure a good harvest from of lime and a layer of compost around the year to year, periodically re plants in the fall replenishes the soil. establish these plants. After the ground freezes, protect the roots from winter thaw and refreezing with a mulch of leaves or hay. Even during this Sow thyme directly in the garden as soon dormant period, the invigorating aroma of as the ground begins to warm. Sift just thyme is carried on the cold air. In the enough dirt over the seed to cover them, spring, loosen the soil around the roots press down firmly and keep them moist with a spading fork, but be careful not to until they have germinated. It is a good tear them. At this time I give my plants idea to lay pieces of burlap or screen over another feeding of lime and bone m€lal. the depressions to keep the tiny seed from These cultural procedures will keep your plants healthy for several seasons, but after GERTRUDE JEKYLL being washed away in a hard rain. For an earlier start, sow the seed in pots indoors, a number of years thyme inevitably begins then transplant the seedlings to the garden to get woody and lose its good flavor. To and space them 10 or 12 inches apart. If ensure a good harvest from year to year, which have been specially you miss spring planting, sow the seeds in it is a good idea to periodically re-establish reprinted to a high standard late fall for an early start the next year. these plants. This can be done by root by the The leaves of thyme are used both fresh divisions, preferably in the spring, by lay ANTIQUE COLLECTORS' CLUB ering or by taking cuttings and rooting of Great Britain and dried, and sprigs can be cut for use all summer. This is also a good way to them in sand. Thyme will also reseed itself. prune the plants to keep them shapely. I had always used thyme in stews and Frequent clipping also helps keep them from ground meat, but then I began to experi GARDENS FOR SMALL becoming woody. As with most perenni ment with other dishes. I have discovered COUNTRY HOUSES als, thyme reaches maturity the second year it puts zest into summer salads, especially (with Sir Lawrence Weaver) of its growth, so harvesting the first year egg, potato and seafood salads. It is deli $44.50 less 20 % discount to members should be kept to a minimum. Cut second cious in melted butter poured over cooked $35.60 year plants back two-thirds just before they vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and begin to bloom. That is the period of peak beans. Add it to the water for cooking flavor. Harvest any flowers which open bland vegetables such as summer squash WOOD and GARDEN availabl e late December before you get to them along with the leaves, or eggplant to perk up their flavor. Use it $29.50 for they also have flavor. Make cuttings in gravies, soups and sauces. Dried leaves less 20% discount to members on a dry, sunny morning as soon as the are stronger, so when using fresh leaves, $23.60 dew has evaporated. Under hot sun, the double the amount. flavor dissipates. Work a little bone meal Thyme, like thousands of other plants or compost into the soil around the plants of use to man, has "earned its keep" over to give them a pick-up toward growing the years. Although its medicinal uses have another harvest. all but disappeared and its commercial uses Before drying, pick off any imperfect have diminished, it is still a star in the herb Make checks payable to The American Horticultural Society and leaves, lightly rinse the branches and shake or rock garden and a standout in the kitchen. send to Mount Vernon, Va 22121, off any excess moisture. Dry the cuttings ,. -Betty Ann Laws attention Dorothy Sam s. Please understand that as these books afe being in a shady, well-ventilated room or porch despatched from England there will be out of the sun. Many people like to tie a a delay of four to five weeks. few branches together and hang them, or Betry Ann Laws is a free lance writer who has published articles on gardening in many they can be spread on several thicknesses magazines; among them, Flower and Garden, of newspaper covered with clean, white The Family Food Garden and American tissue to absorb the moisture. Horticulturist.
14 December 1981 BRAND NEW ROSES! Featuring FASCINATION, the 1982 Rose of the Year - the tropical-coral hybrid tea that's the talk of rosarians everywhere. FRENCH LACE, the 1982 All-America floribunda ~ (J~. ,<:0<), that fills your garden and home with classic ivory-white blooms. LOVE, HONOR and ~ 0'" CHERISH, our history-making trio that swept the 1980 All-America Rose trials. This ~ ~o
Jackson & Perkins Co. ('\"" r>:J0 , ....0 ~0 i\.~ ~o ~4, ~'a' 0"" World's Largest Rose Growers and Nurserymen L V TheGotelli Dwarf Conifer Collection TEXT BY STEVE BENDER PHOTOGRAPHY BY BARBARA W. ELLIS ine wine, it is said, improves with yew can be found there. Many of the plants conifers germinated, March recalls the age. As the vintage marks the pass have been in place since 1962, when Ed fateful meeting between Gotelli and his F ing of seasons, its original coarse ward Gotelli donated his collection to the eventual landscape architect, John Jen ness evanesces away, grace and subtlety arboretum. nings. "It seems that a landscape contrac come to the fore, and at last true character What exactly constitutes a "dwarf" con tor put a common dogwood in front of is born. ifer? A "dwarf" conifer is one that, for one Mr. Gotelli's house," relates March. "Mr. So it is too with dwarf conifers. In youth, reason or another, never attains the stature Gotdli didn't like it, wanted something these unique plants ofteN appear awkward which is considered normal for plants of more unusual, so he went to see a nursery and misshapen, lacking refinement. But as its original species, variety or cultivar. The and there met John Jennings. Jennings sug they grow, distinct personalities develop, actual dwarfing may be due to a viral in gested a type of hawthorn, it was planted, traits are defined, until at last an under fection, bud mutation, insect irritation or and from then on they travelled all over lying beauty emerges. Nowhere is this a chance seedling variation. Many dwarf the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada beauty more ably manifested than at the conifers grow only a few inches per year; and Japan tracking down plants, partic Gotelli Dwarf Conifer Collection at the some grow as little as one-quarter inch per ularly dwarf conifers." Gotelli later esti United States National Arboretum in year, which makes annual pruning a dis mated the cost of assembling his collection Washington, D.C. tant memory. at $500,000. The Gotelli Collection occupies roughly A New York building contractor who Prior to 1%2 the Gotelli Collection rested five acres in the northeast section of the spent his childhood in Oregon, Edward on 1 tJ2 acres in South Orange, New Jersey, Arboretum. Approximately 1,500 speci Gotelli was not a single-minded "plant part of the Gotdli estate. Although he was mens of numerous cultivars and varieties freak." "What he was, and remains," says of fir, cedar, false cypress, spruce, juniper, Sylves~er "Skip" March, National Arbor ABOVE: Grass walks at the €ntrance to the cryptomeria, pine, hemlock, arborvitae and etum horticulturist, "is an intense collector Gotelli Collection lead past a variety of of unbridled enthusiasm, whether it's for unusual conifers towards several columnar ctldars and a large Cedrus atlantiGa 'Glauca' Steve Bender is a free lance writer and works collecting matchbooks, photographs of at the top of the hill. RIGHT: Picea pungens for Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville, bridges or dwarf conifers." In designating 'Hoopsii', at center, is Ofle of tne blu€st Maryland. the point at which Gotelli's zest for dwarf cultivars of blue spruce available. 20 December 1981 very fond of his collection, several factors providing him with quarantine facilities. imens immediately, while smaller ones were contributed to his decision to donate it to "I must emphasize," states March, "that held in wire baskets. Occasionally, mis the National Arboretum. One was his de the Gotelli donation was not a case of a haps occurred. At one point workmen us sirt~ to preserve the integrity of the collec rich man erecting a monument to himself. ing a crane attempted to move the Col tion for posterity. Gotelli was aware that It was, rather, a feeling of reciprocity be lection's largest member, an Atlas cedar, other notable assemblages, such as the Jen tween Mr. Gotelli and the Arboretum. Both Cedrus atlantica, with an eight-foot root kins Hemlock Collection in Germantown, parties wished to see the introduction ball. But instead of the crane lifting the Pennsylvania, had been dispersed upon the of these plants into cultivation and the cedar, the cedar lifted the crane. The cav owner's de~th. Gotelli wanted his to re subsequent knowledge used to benefit alry soon arrived, however, iFl the form of main intact, so the essential character would horticulture." a larger crane, and the Atlas cedar was not be destroyed. The National Arboretum's location successfully moved to its new home. A second reason behind his action was played the final role in Gotelli's decision. Sue Frost is the curator of the Collection, the long and amicable relationship he had Situated in a borderline habitat between a position she has held since April, 1979. shared with the National Arboretum. northern and southern extremes, the Ar Besides "curating" (a nebulous term if ever Through the Arboretum, the USDA had boretum usually provides a climate tol there was one), her duties vary widely. They assisted him in the introduction of for erable to most conifers. It is also blessed include documentation of plant origins to eign dwarf conifers to the United States by with easy public access. ensure that new introductions are truly In 1962 the Gotelli Collection was dug unique, separate cultivars. She maintains LEFT: Dwarf conifers can provide endless and transported to Washington, D.C. on records of specimens' growth rates, habits textures, colors, shapes and sizes in the Arboretum trucks, the Arboretum under and locations. She undertakes correspond garden. Mere low-growing juniper cultivars grow at the base of a columnar cultivar, writing all expenses. The Collection took ence with nurseries throughout the coun Juniperus communis 'P American Horticulturist 23 were applied to plants collected during the late 18th century in Asian and Pacific col onies belonging to England, France, Hol land and Germany. Working indepen dently and rarely collaborating, each country's botanists classified their finds into TEXT BY STEVEN HEINTZE species. Consequently, many of the species illiam Wordsworth felt that five-starred center, in colors such as russet, were given more than one name, a problem memories were essential to crea white, salmon, beige, yellow, mauve, crim that still encumbers the genus. Professor Wtivity and that they were most son, black, green, indigo or an exquisite David Silverman, a leading authority on quickly aroused through the sense of smell. blend of several hues. The petals of these the genus, has suggested that, due to these Hoyas, with their wide array of fragrances, beautiful flowers are usually thick and multiple namings and misclassifications, many of which are nocturnal, are as ar rounded and occasionally display fine, as many as one third of the species are omatically enticing as they are exotically silken hair. Nestled within is the lustrous, incorrectly identified. In an attempt to end beautiful. They have scents as varied as starry corona, fleshy and glistening, from the 200-year-old confusion, he is writing those of lemons, coconut, chocolate, ripe which the hoya derives its common name, a comprehensive revision of the genus. berries or candy. the wax plant. Fortunately, there is nothing uncertain Visually, the hoya's most exciting fea The availability of hoyas has increased about growing hoyas. They are sturdy plants ture is its clustered flowers, each with its tremendously over the past 20 years. Hy and will remain so for owners who follow brids of Hoya carnosa, the "Father of all a few simple guidelines. Steven Heintze is a profess ional There are, of course, several growing photographer, free lance writer and an avid Hoyas," are now quite commonly found pl ant coll ector. He teaches at Montgomery in commercial greenhouses. Of the 267 techniques recommended, but I have cho College in Germantown, Maryland. documented names of Hoya species, most sen to follow the one used by David Sil- 24 December 1981 LEFT: Hoya purpurea-fusca ABOVE: Hoya keysii. American Horticulturist 25 26 December 1981 LEFT: Hoya multiflora. ABOVE: Hoya motoskei. American Horticulturist 27 verman, who, in addition to his work re Regular misting or using a cool mist va all. The cutting should root in a couple of vising the genus, also maintains what may porizer will work equally well. In the sum weeks. well be the largest collection of hoyas in mer, maintain temperatures bdow 95° F An even easier method of propagation the world. or your plants may slip into dormancy. is layering. To layer a hoya, place a stem One of the first requirements of the hoya Indirect light from a window with a of one plant across the soil in an adjacent is well drained soil. To avoid problems southern exposure, or a plant light, pro container. Then place a small sterilized stone with rotting roots it is important to select motes the healthiest indoor plants. Place on top of any node touching the soil. Roots a growing medium that will drain quickly. fluorescent lights about 18 inches from the will form from this node in a few weeks. Commercially available soilless mixes, if plants for 12 to 15 hours a day. Watch After rooting occurs, hold the node in the slightly modified, are suitable. A mix con for signs of a lighting imbalance. Leavtls soil, clip the original vine between the two taining pine bark, peat, vermiculite and that become light green and yellow, or pots and a new plant is yours. perlite will make a good starter medium. develop a calloused quality, may be suf Traditionally, spring and summer are To this, simply add some pot shards, leaf fering from excessive light. Plants with the hoya's peak growing season. They mold (if available) and an extra portion of smaller, darkening leaves, or ones that re propagate more easily at this time of year. pine bark nuggets. fuse to bloom, could be signalling a light Mature plants will also flower plentifully Cornell mix is another commercial me deficiency. By watching your plants care at this time. The waxen blooms range in dium that can be mixed easily at home by fully it is easy to spot these conditions size from H. imperialis, with its startling combining 41/2 one-pound coffee cans of and make adjustments before they become three-inch flower, to the dainty H. lacu shredded sphagnum peat moss, 21/2 cans serious. nosa, where an entire umbel is about the of horticultural grade vermiculite and 21/2 Despite their basically sturdy natures, size of a nickel. cans of medium grade perlite. To this mix hoyas do have several natural enemies from Hoya flowers are borne on spurs that ture add about 21/2 tablespoons of dolom which they must be protected. The most grow from various nodes, and each pe ite limestone, 1 V2 teaspoons of 20 percent common enemy is the aphid, which can be dlmcle is capable of producing more than powdered superphosphate, some 10-10-10 effectively treated with Malathion. If you 50 dazzling blooms or simply one, as seen fertilizer, a small amount of potassium or notice spider mites, quickly dispose of them on the extremely rare H. pauciflora. The calcium nitrate and a granular wetting using Kelthane on contact or Pentac as a spurs are most often permanent and con agent. residual agent. tinue to bloom each year. A small ring of Hoyas grow well in any type of con Mealybugs pose a more serious threat, pinholes on the end of the spur marks the tainer with bottom drainage as long as attacking the . undersides of leaves, stem origin of the flowers for that season. If you wateriNg is adjusted according to the type crotches and roots. Common signs are want to find out how many times a spur of pot used, and the plant is kept slightly wilting or dropping leaves, although you has produced, simply count the number of rootbound. A plastic pot, for example, also can see the powdery white bugs them rings on that peduncle. requires less frequent watering than a po selves. If you detect them early enough, a After blooming, only pollinated flowers rous clay pot. systemic such as Isotox or Orthene will remain attached. These quickly begin to Some helpful rules to follow are: water safely rid your plant of the intrudtl rs. swell, transforming into dongated, horn the plant only after the top two inches of There remains one lethal enemy, the shaped seed pods. After two to five weeks soil feel dry to the touch. Use water that hoya's true nemesis, the root knot nema the pods burst open and release hundreds is tepid and free of chlorination (tap water tode. This microscopic roundworm, trans of tiny, silk-trailing seeds into the air. Like should stand overnight). Avoid watering mitted mainly through watering, infests the delicate parachutes, the frail, floating seeds on dark, rainy days or during periods of roots and lays eggs within them. A semi must contact a suitable groundcover within excessive humidity. Water only in the monthly spray program using a solution one week. Each day after that, the seed's morning because evaporation occurs most of Vydate-L will keep plants safe from fertility diminishes almost exponentially, rapidly during daylight hours, and the plants nematode infection and may even eradi leaving small chance of germination. will have a chance to dry off before night cate any problems if they are caught soon This manner of dissemination and its fall. enough. Wilting leaves or an overall un characteristic fruit shape identify the genus Feed your plants on a weekly basis with healthy appearance are the symptoms of Hoya as a member of the Asclepiadaceae, a very weak solution of orchid or house possible infestation. Inspect the roots im or milkweed family. In fact, until 1802 plant fertilizer. Also, when misting the mediately for irregularly bent sections or hoyas were classified in the genus Ascle plants, occasionally add a small amount ball-like nodules (galls) on their tips. Un pias. Then English botanist Robert Brown of organic fertilizer to the water. Remem fortunately, there is no sure cure for ne reclassified Hoya as a separate genus and ber that it is always preftlrable to under matodes that would not also kill the plant. named his "new" plant after a gardener fertilize. The only solution is to take cuttings well to the Duke of Northumberland, Thomas Humidity and temperature, particularly above the soil line and throw everything Hoy. in the winter, are important considera else away -pot, soil and plant remains. The hoya's leaves are thick and succu tions. Air that is too cold (below 55° F) Fortunately, hoyas are easy to propagate lent, enabling them to store water for the and too dry (below 50 percent relative from cuttings. Include at least two or three arid seasons. While varying greatly in spe humidity) can result in leaves that are weak nodes per cutting, and root them in soil cific features, leaves commonly grow in and thin. To increase humidity immedi or water. Rooting in soil is very easy. Sim pairs on opposite sides of a stem. These ately around plants, place the plants in a ply plant the lowermost node into loosely pairs alternately cross each other and form pebble-filled tray of water, making sure packed, sterilized soil. Then thoroughly a balanced flow down each vine. the water level never reaches the pots. soak the soil with a dilute fertilizer. That's Continued on page 35 28 December 1981 KaJhJeen Meser(Jci HOll~IES TEXT BY STEVE BENDER y Ignorance was a need of gardeners across the with water," she notes. "My moved to the Huntington great benefit to my land -that for a holly which mother disliked it intensely, Estate on Long Island. Like M career," states combined winter hardiness with because it grew all over the many other Americans, Mrs. Kathleen Merserve, creator of attractive blue-green foliage - living room." Meserve became involved in the famous Blue Hollies, but also demonstrated that, in Even a botany class at school growing vegetables in a "because I didn't know what her words, "horticulture is the failed to pique an interest in backyard Victory Garden. couldn't be done. If I wanted to only science where amateurs plants. " I was bored to death," Under the tutelage of a Polish do something, I thought about can be on the same level with she declares. " I remember one farmer, John Beck, she became it and then went out and did scientists. " time I asked the teacher, if you so proficient at this that she it." The science of horticulture crossed butter and eggs with seldom had to purchase What Kathleen Meserve did was not always of interest to milkweed, would you get vegetables at the supermarket. was to take English and rugosa Mrs. Meserve. As a girl custard? She kicked me out." After the war the Meserves hollies, cross them, and create growing up on Park Avenue in But eventually, things moved to a new home a few an entirely new type of holly, New York City, her awareness changed for this future miles away from the Ilex X meserveae. In doing so, of plants was for the most part hybridizer extraordinaire. She Huntington Estate, but the soil she not only filled a pressing limited to the swath of green married F. Leighton Meserve, a at the new site wasn't good for Steve Bender is a free lance writer between sidewalk and curb. "I member of the New York growing vegetables. Quite let and works for Homestead Gardens did have a sweet potato plant Stock Exchange. With the onset in Davidsonville, Maryland. growing in a milk bottle filled of World War II the Meserves Holly 'Blue Princess'. American Horticulturist 29 down, Mrs. Meserve began searching for something to replace the void left in her life by the now absent vegetable garden. One day she attended a garden club lecture on native Long Island plants, one of which was holly. Instantly, almost remarkably, the void was filled; a fascination with holly had taken hold. Mrs. Meserve explains her new enthusiasm this way: "Life can be very dull. Everyone should have some interests. The ones that don't take to alcohol. I took to hollies." In short order she joined the local holly society and began collecting different holly species. When local nurseries couldn't supply the plants she wanted, she wrote to Henry Hohman, a well-known hybridizer, who did. She then learned how to make a Wardian case for her window to propagate cuttings. "The first time I found out that a cutting had rooted, I was so excited I called up all my girlfriends and had a cocktail party," she recalls. If a rooted cutting is cause for a cocktail party, what manner of gala is suited to her unfathomable luck at creating the Blue Hollies? For no matter if one is professional or amateur, breeding with purpose or breeding for a lark, crossing hollies to achieve a desirable result is not that easy. Never mind the actual mechanics of transferring pollen from one flower to another; the troubles with hybridizing hollies are far more fundamental. For one thing, hollies are dioecious. Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. This means that for fer tilization to occur both the male and female plant must Kathleen Meserve shown with one of her blue hollies, 'Dragon Lady'. bloom at the same time. Since they are sometimes reluctant to hollies, many genetic recombi holly, Ilex aquifolium, for ex two. Similarly, an attempted in do this, either the pollen must nations are possible, and the ample, has 40 somatic chromo terspecific cross between plants be stored or quite a bit of outcome of anyone cross is somes, while American holly, of undetermined chromosome plant-juggling between warm unpredictable. Finally, different Ilex opaca, has 36. One could numbers (such as Mrs. Mes and cold rooms becomes neGes species of holly have different therefore expect some trouble erve's) would likely be unfruit sary. Secondly, when crossing chromosome numbers. English in successfully crossing these ful (in more ways than one). 30 December 1981 The happy fact is, it wasn't. died because the winters were UMy ignorance was a get attention." Of her personal And therein lies the tale. mild. But along came a bad reaction to her notoriety, she Mrs. Meserve grew many winter and "when I went out great benefit to my comments, "I feel like Alice in species of holly before she tried the next spring to check the career because I Wonderland did when she fell her hand at hybridizing. "The hollies, all I could see was didn't know what down the rabbit hole ... I feel reason I started corssing them brown, brown, brown. that the Lord was on my side." was that there were no good .. . green." she recalls. The couldn't be done." When Mrs. Meserve's hus- red-berried plants suitable for greens were progeny of the ru- band died more than a decade foundations. They were always gosa crosses. ful edging for a rose garden in- ago, she decided to give up too big," she explains. So she Mrs. Meserve knew that she stead of boxwood or privet," crossing. "Crossing takes a lot contacted Paul Vossberg of the was on to something big. After she declares. of time, but when you're Westbury Rose Company and vegetatively propagating the 'Blue Angel' is the most com- lonely, you want to have told him of her concern. Voss- surviving plants to make sure pact of the Blue Hollies, grow- friends. Friends take time too," berg replied by obtaining for that their characteristics held ing only six to eight feet in she notes. Nevertheless, new her some seeds of the rugosa true, she named the first of her height and breadth if un- holly introductions appear pe- holly, ILex rugosa, and sug- Blue Hollies 'Blue Boy' (male) trimmed. It sports crinkled, riodically from her hands, such gested that she try some crosses and 'Blue Girl' (female). From glossy leaves, purplish stems, as 'Blue Maid', the most cold- with this plant. He said, "You their male English holly parent, large red berries and is hardy hardy of all of the Blue Hollies, know, you could create a these Blues inherited beautiful to 20 degrees below zero. and 'Blue Stallion', an im- whole new race of hollies from glossy, blue-green leaves. From Her great experience with proved 'Blue Prince' with snag- this." He was right. their rugosa mother, they re- holly leads Mrs. Meserve to free leaves. Mrs. Meserve is For the uninitiated, ILex ru- ceived a lower growth habit some very definite conclusions currently working towards a go sa is a small, prostrate shrub and increased winter hardiness. about how to grow the plant. weeping Blue Holly and one that grows in the mountains of After the bad winter of 1956, "All hollies like sandy soils senses that she won't rest until northern Japan. Although its Mrs. Meserve wrote to Jackson with good drainage, especially she gets it. habit is quite variable, the plant and Perkins about the Blue the Blue Hollies. Plant them on With all of her success, Kath- can generally be said to resem- Hollies. Charles Perkins came the north side of the house leen Meserve states that one su- ble some forms of spreading out to Long Island, liked what where the snow lasts the long- preme wish is still but a dream: euonymus. Its lanceolate leaves he saw and bought the rights to est. This prevents abrupt an honorary Doctor's Degree. are about 11/2 inches long and market them. Unfortunately, he changes in temperature," she "That's the highest accomplish- one-half inch wide. The fasci- soon died, and Jackson and explains. "And full sun in the ment I could achieve, but I've culate flowers are produced on Perkins sold the Blue Hollies to summer is great. The plants never written anything and I growth made the previous sea- a firm called Harry and David. fruit better and stay stockier, so think you need that," she says. son. The beneficial characteris- When Harry and David didn't they don't whip in the wind." Why hasn't she written? (She tics that it could hope to im- do anything with them, a plain- She envisions two superb 10- has had offers from publishers.) part to hybrid progeny - tive Mrs. Meserve pleaded with cations for holly in the home "Dr. Connors of Rutgers al- appearance not being one of the firm to the effect that, as landscape. The first is along a ways said, 'Taint what you them -are a low growth habit these plants represented her driveway, where the headlights know; it's what you know you and winter hardiness. only true success as an amateur from the car pick up the red don't know.'" she recalls. Working in her kitchen "stud breeder, if they weren't going fruit in their beams; the second "That's very wise. I'm very farm," Mrs. Meserve started to market them wouldn't they is adjacent to a northeast or conscious of what I don't her crosses in the early 1950's. please give her back her patent? northwest window, where the know. I'd love to write a book Because she was unsure of ex- Amazingly, they did. The pat- rising or setting sun dramati- on holly, but I couldn't make it actly how long or when the ent soon went to the Conard- cally illuminates the foliage and scientific in any way." holly flowers were receptive, Pyle Company and the rest, as berries. Why all the fuss about an she pollinated each female they say, is history. It can safely be said that no improved holly? Why is it so flower on a plant every four 'Blue Girl' and 'Blue Boy' latter-day plant hybridizer, arn- all-fired important? "Holly is a hours. Almost immediately, she were introduced in 1964. Im- ateur or professional, can great winter plant," Mrs. Mes- could tell if a cross had taken: proved varieties, 'Blue Princess' match the widespread acclaim erves states flatly, in the prag- the flower's base would swell and 'Blue Prince, soon fol- that has been heaped upon matic language of an experi- and the petals would fall off. lowed. By taking seedlings from Kathleen Meserve. Her name is enced plant breeder. But The resulting seeds sh€ 'Blue Girl' and 'Blue Boy' and known far and wide; a new hy- perhaps the words of a poet, planted in sphagnum moss in- crossing them back on their brid of holly, ILex X meserveae, Robert Southey, state the case side metal flats that were cov- parents, Mrs. Meserve pro- is named after her; and the most mellifluently: " .. . when ered with wire to keep the mice duced probably her most beau- American Horticultural Society all the summer trees are seen out. They took at least 18 tiful holly, 'Blue Angel'. awarded her a citation for out- So bright and green, The holly months to germinate. After a "I liked 'Blue Angel' because standing contributions to horti- leaves a somber hue display while, these seedlings, along it didn't get any of the diseases culture. She explains her suc- Less bright than they; But with others, were lined out on we get around here and the fo - cess by saying, "I supplied when the bare and wintry the grounds of her estate. For Ii age is like miniature English something that filled a great woods we see, What then so the first few winters nothing holly. It would make a wonder- need. When you do that, you cheerful as the holly-tree?" ,. American Horticulturist 31 CAMELLIAS CONT'D Continued from page 19 first frost. Fortunately, they do not need clogging. Place the root ball of the plant a greenhouse to perform. An unheated but so that the crown roots remain at the sur frost-free porch is excellent. The east, south face, about two iJ}ches below the rim of or west window of a shut-off room of the the container. Fill around the root ball as house (so common in winter these days) needed. Sprinkle not more than one-quar will do. The rule of thumb for light is: ter inch of soil over the top. Then cover plenty but no strong sunlight. On bright, the surface with an inch of coarse ma sunny days and in mild weather, ventilate. terial such as fir bark, pine needles or forest and PASSIVE SOLAR A south window should be opened an inch litter. or more when the sun shines unless it is GREENHOUSE After potting, water the plants heavily, bitter cold. A cool plant room where you o New System 3 - "Brookhaven" model then allow a moderate drying of the soil keep such plants as azaleas, cyclamen and o Factory insulated triple glazing before watering again. Watering is espe geraniums happy is fine. Camellias will o G. E. Lexan® Shatterproof Panels cially critical in the spring when the plants also bloom under fluorescent light if you 40% Tax Credit & State Credits o break dormancy and grow rapidly. Water keep the air circulating, the night temper o Lean-To, Free Stdg. & Window units o Curved Eave. Bronze Tone Finish freely at that time. ature below 55°F and the daytime tem COLOR CATALOG and TAX CREDIT GUIDE: Enclose During the summer the plants should be perature below 65°F. Keep camellias out $1 . for our catalog and price list . plus O UT guide to the lalest federal and slale passive sola r tax cred its and kept outside, either in filtered sunlight or of the living room, even for a short spell. qualifications. All kits shipped Freight Prepaid. where they receive early morning and/or They are not house plants. SAMPLE WINDOW KIT: Enclose $5. for catalog and lax gUide above . plus actual samples of greenhouse alum . late afternoon sunshine. Keep the hose Their spring return to the outdoors will frames. G.L Lexan® glazing . assembly manual and handy and give the plants frequent baths depend upon when the outside night tem healing guide in the late afternoons or evenings of hot, peratures either match or exceed the night sunny days. temperatures your plants have grown ac I 0 - ...I GREENHOUSESFOUR SEASONS Camellias are slow-growing by nature customed to indoors--but certainly not later L'fIII' I:., 910 Route 110, OepI.AH-112 i:.:.t~ Farmingdale. N.Y. 11735 and must not be forced. Overfeeding can than the time it is safe in your locality to .. Phone: (516) 694-4400 kill them. Wait a month after potting, then set out tender plants. Div. Fo ur Seasons Solar Producis. Corp. use an organic fertilizer such as cottonseed It is a good practice to moderately trim (Custo m Built & Standard Sizes) meal or fish meal. Avoid chemical fertiliz an established plant every year. Pruning to ers, especially those recommended for acid remove weak branches, to shape the plant loving plants, which camellias are. If you or reduce its size, is done after the plant have prepared the potting soil as sug has bloomed. To help the trimming proc gested, it will be naturally acid and will ess, when cutting a bloom take two or remain acid. If you do use chemical fer three leaves with it. To force side branch tilizers, use them sparingly. Of the cotton ing, prune the top flush of growth down seed and fish meal fertilizers, apply these to about a half inch above the growth ring. THE WAYSIDE every two to three months at the following To induce upright growth, cut the side GARDENS CATALOG rate: 4 teaspoons per 6-inch pot, 1 rounded branches right above a growth bud point teaspoon per 8-inch pot, 2 rounded tea ing in the desired direction. Remove weak FOR 1982 spoons per lO-inch pot, etc. A liquid feed, interior branches all the way back to the such as manure water or fish emulsion trunk. diluted as directed, may be applied instead Inevitably, after a number of years, a every six to eight weeks. Skip the winter vigorous camellia may simply become too feeding. Always water before and after large to handle unless you are prepared to feeding. keep it in a very large tub. Some of the Do not cultivate a camellia. It will dam options available to confront such an out age the roots near the surface. Pull weeds come are, in the order of increasing dif Ask now and this big, book-style catalog is by hand. ficulty: yours for only $1.00 deductible from first purchase. Your single, most reliable source In late summer the flower buds will be 1. Buy plants that are listed as being for superior GARDEN PLANTS -- over gin to form at or near the tips of the new slow, compact growers or moderate grow 1000 items for your home garden, with authoritative descriptions and sound growth. They may be distinquished from ers. Avoid the vigorous cultivars (some of advice -- 148 pages faithfully illustrated in the growth buds by being fatter and more them are so desirable, however, that the FULL COLOR! bulbous in shape. Often they will appear trouble to keep them in pots will not be WAYSIDE GARDENS CO. in pairs or clusters in one leaf axil. For the the ruling factor). 53 Garden Lane, Hodges, S. C.1969S largest and finest blooms the plants should 2. If you can afford it, start with a new I ------enclose $1.00 deductible from first purchase. be dis budded, leaving one flower bud per plant. As for the one that has outgrown Name ______axil, as soon as they can clearly be distin its welcome, if you live where camellias Add ress ______guished from the growth buds. Carefully are grown outdoors, plant the veteran in City ______grasp the unwanted bud and gently twist your garden, give it to someone who does State Zip ______it off with a sidewise motion. live in camellia country or donate it to a Wayside Gardens Co. Bring your camellias inside before the college or arboretum. Continued 53 Garden Lane. Hodges, S. C. 29695 32 December 1981 You won't believe the difference ..• Selected Cultivars and Source List ABSORBENT POlYMER A product of USDA research, AquaStor is a new soil additive that dramatically increases water holding capacity . It helps plants develop faster and grow hardier, with less frequent watering. P,otects ga,dens in hot, d,y weathe, With AquaStor , flowering plants de velop more blossoms . It helps produce greater vegetable yields in less time . All with up to 50% less water . A su,esta,t fo, t,ees and sh,ubs AquaStor helps establish plants . It virtually eliminates transplant shock Camellia 'Alba Plena'. and encou rages root development. Each of the following dozen varieties is 'Sawada's Dream': White in center, Wate, houseplants a classic of beauty and performance: shading to soft, flesh pink in outer once a month 'Adolphe Audusson': Deep red, semi- petals. Formal double. Medium bushy Th is remarkable powder absorbs double. Upright compact growth. Mid growth. Early to midseason. hundreds of times its weight in water , forming swollen gel particles . These season. 'Tomorrow's Dawn': Light-pink edged white, irregular semi double to loose actual " pieces of water " provide avail 'Alba Plena'; White, formal double. able moisture throughout the soil. peony form. Vigorous upright growth. Medium bushy growth. Early to mid Plants draw water only as needed . season. Early to midseason. Smaller houseplants may require water 'Betty Sheffield Supreme': White with 'Ville de Nantes': Brilliant red, blotched every two weeks . rose-red picotee edge, semidouble to and marbled white, saw-tooth edges. The 4 oz. package of fast absorbing loose peony form, stylish twists and Semidouble with lots of rwists. Slow bushy growth. Midseason. Aq uaStor 450 is enough for ten aver waves. Medium compact growth. age houseplants. For outdoors order (EARL Y-mid-September to November; Midseason. extra absorbing AquaStor 900 . One 8 'Daikagura': Rose-red splotched white, MIDSEASON-December to Febru oz . package does 30 ten foot rows , peony form. Slow compact growth. ary; LATE-March to April.) 200 sq. feet of garden, or 12 average Early to late. These cultivars and others may be ob trees or shrubs . AquaStor will gradu 'Debutante': Light pink, full peony, very tained from one or more of the following ally biodegrade in about two years . stylish. Vigorous upright growth. Early mail-order sources: We guarantee results to midseason. Belle Fontaine Nursery, Rt. 3, Box or your money back! 'Elegans' (Chandler) (Variegated): Rose 546, Theodore, Alabama 36582 pink mottled white, anemone form Mrs. R. C. Welsh (rooted cuttings), Absorbent Industries Inc. (large, flat guard petals surrounding a Route 3, Box 181, Madison, Florida 611 E. Jefferson St. large pompon of petaloids). Medium 32340 Morton, II 61550 spreading growth. Early to midseason. Nuccio's Nurseries, P. O. Box H, 3555 'Hawaii': Light pink, full peony form with Chaney Trail, Altadena, California Name ______serrated petal edges, like a giant car 91001 Address, ______nation. Medium spreading growth. Orinda Nursery, Bridgeville, Delaware City ____ State_ Zip ____ Midseason. 19933 'Kickoff': Light pink, striped and splat Shackelford Nursery, 530 Flint O MC O VISA# ______tered rose-red, loose to full peony form. Avenue, Albany, Georgia 31701 Interbank# Exp . Date, ____ Vigorous upright growth. Early to late. Tammia Nursery, P. O. Box 157, AQuaStor 450 AQuaStor 900 'Paeoniaeflora': Creamy white, peony Slidell, Louisiana 70459 __4 oz . Soz form. Bushy compact growth. Mid Ray Gentry's Leavell Woods Nursery, $4 .95 ppd . $7 .95 ppd . season. P.O. Box 6626, Jackson, MS 39212 __Three for __Three for $12 .95 ppd . $19 .95 ppd . Credit card or money orders shipped within 48 hrs Check orders . allow 2·4 wee ks lor delivery American Horticulturist 33 CAMELLIAS CONTO 3. Retain the older plant in the same Camellias are slow-growing You are not likely to run into problems container by removing it from the con if you start with a healthy, young plant, tainer, washing away the old soil from the by nature and must not be pot it properly and maintain it properly. outer root ball, cutting the roots one inch forced. Overfeeding can kill Bud drop sometimes occurs when a plant on one or two sides of the root ball, re them. A void chemical is allowed to go dry, is over-watered, is potting the plant using fresh potting mix not provided with sufficient light and hu and pruning the branches to compen fertilizers, especially those midity or there is a sudden change of tem sate for the loss of roots. Do this work in recommended for acid perature. Most nurseries I have dealt with February. loving plants, which ship clean, healthy plants. It is wise, how 4. Start new plants by propagating. Air ever, to inspect each plant carefully upon layering your favorite branch is your best camellias are. arrival. In the rare case of a plant with bet. If you are enterprising and patient and scale on it, scrape ev~ry one of them off have a propagating setup that ensures bot taking four leaves but removing the lower carefully and watch such plants through tom heat and high humidity at all hours two, one-eighth of an inch from the stem. out the first year, until they are perfectly of the day, cuttings may be rooted in a bed Apply a rooting hormone to the end of the clean. of sand or a combination of sand and peat cutting before inserting it into the rooting Do not judge a camellia blossom until moss, shaded from the direct rays of the medium. Take many more cuttings than it has been open several days. It sometimes sun. Take semi-hard cuttings of current you think you will need to hedge against takes that long for its petals to assume their growth when branches have partially turned failure. Be prepared to lavish care on these typical posture. Avoid nudging or poking brown and snap or break when bent be baby plants the first few years while they the petals. They are fleshy and tend to tween the fingers. Make a slanting cut, grow slowly in strength and vigor. brown where their surface has been bruised. More about Camellias Camellias have been around for thou lections of Magnolia Gardens and Mid F (3-4° C) with daylight temperatures sands of years. Camellia sinensis may have dleton Place, in the Charleston area, were sometimes rising to 70° F (21 ° C) or more been "in use" as early as 2737-2705 B.C. first planted. Both of these Gardens have due to the solar energy. The culture of when tea was said to have been first used become internationally famous and con camellias in a greenhouse or other en as a beverage. The genus was not named tain many camellia plants more than 100 closed structure is very similar to that of Camellia until May, 1753 when the noted years old." container-grown camellias, or inde~d, Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus named There are now some 190 named ca those grown in the ground. it in posthumous honor of Father George mellia species and more than 3,500 named In this greenhouse environment many Joseph Kamel, a Moravian priest and cultivars for growers to choose from. Their successful growers of camellias also raise botanist who probably had Bever even flowers range from simple, five-petaled bougainvilleas, cymbidium orchids, or seen a camellia himself. single forms to the very complex and anges, lemons, grapefruits, freesias, most The first known Camellia japonica to beautiful formal doubles, the form that of the various bulbs after they have been be brought into America, that is, the spe many people equate with camellias. Other in cold storage for a few weeks, bird of cies that flowers in the winter and spring amateur and professional camellia en paradise (Strelitzia reginae), night and is universally loved as a garden and thusiasts in this country are working to blooming cereus, geraniums, ardisias, greenhouse plant, was imported to Ho ward developing good fragrant camel century plants, ferns, azaleas and rho boken, New Jersey in 1797 or 1798 by lias, more cold-hardy camellias and even dodendrons. nurseryman John Stevens. In 1800 he more heat-hardy camellias. The once More information about camellias and brought in a double white cultivar named elusive yellow camellia is now a reality. their cultivation is available from the 'Alba Plena'. This lovely, formal white The future for the camellia looks brighter American Camellia Society. This Society flower is grown extensively in gardens today than it has for several decades. is a worldwide scientific, horticultural and throughout the camellia growing area of Although most of the camellias grown hobby organization of more than 5,000 our country today. in this country are now grown out of members in 44 states and 22 foreign Camellias survived in the cooler cli doors, there are many areas of the North countries. Membership brings four issues mate of the Northeast because they were where it is possible to grow camellias of the Journal and a Yearbook annually, grown in "stove houses." Surprisingly, it only in a greenhouse or enclosed struc plus a culture booklet for new members. was some years before they found favor ture. Many people have believed that For information, write the American in the South. The late Ralph Peer, a for camellias, like other exotics, require high Camellia Society, P. O. Box 1217, Fort mer President of the American Camellia temperatures in a greenhouse. This is not Valley, GA 31030. -Milton H. Brown, Society, wrote, "It was probably in the so. They thrive and bloom beautifully in Executive Secretary, American Camellia 1830's that the wonderful camellia col- a greenhouse maintained at about 35-38° Society 0 34 December 1981 RELAX, ENJOY LIFE! HOYAS CONT'D Continued from page 28 of 50 to 100 blossoms is an imposing and As exotic plants living beneath dense spectacular sight. tropical cover, hoy as have adapted them Native to Australia, H. keysii is covered selves to seek out the sun's light. With few almost entirely with fine, downy hair. Only exceptions, this is done by clinging to and its smooth white and pink flowers are • Beautifully Designed • Permanent Quality climbing up and around a host tree. Cur without pubescence. When H . keysii is • Solar Efficient iously, all hoyas are said to climb in a moved from its native, arid climate to the • Sensibly Priced counter-clockwise direction regardless of humid environment of a greenhouse, a re Write or call for free Color Brochure and Gothic~ their native hemisphere. markable change takes place and it be " Practical Guide for Greenhouse Selection" Arch H1:r Small, aerial roots, which grab and cling comes a vigorous climber. 205/432· 7529 Greenhouses to the tree, sprout from the stems. When Pendulous H. engleriana exemplifies yet ever these adventitious roots contact a limb another way in which hoyas grow. Amid P. O. BOX 1564, DEPT. a h MOBILE. ALABAMA 36633 crotch or natural basket containing loose its dangling vines, the engleriana's umbels bark or decayed material, they grow there seem to float almost mysteriously. Each permanently absorbing whatever moisture flower is a shimmering white, centrally Membership the tree provides. Once rooted and on the highlighted by an elegant pink corona edged W ~ tree, they are considered semi-epiphytes. in crimson. H. engleriana is further marked in the Society H. macgillivrayi, a species from Aus by an umbel of exactly four blossoms. Makes a Wonderful tralia, is one of the exceptions to this trait. With its white and deep-pink flowers, Occasionally suffering the dying off of its H. bella is as beautiful as its name implies. Christmas Gift. terrestrial roots, it continues to live, nour This species has two unique traits: spurs Consider the gardeners ished exclusively by its adventitious roots. that drop each season and a distinctive leaf on your holiday In this instance it displays more of the arrangement. The new leaf growths on the character of a true epiphyte such as a bro ends of each draping vine would ordinarily list and use meliad or orchid. suffer from a lack of light due to the ov Other climbers include H. divers ifo lia, erhanging upper leaves. To compensate, ~~~~and!( o~der f:~iI.. H. carnosa and the peculiar Javan H. ma the leaf stems axially rotate and alternately ~ In th,s Issue. ~ crophylla. The leaves of this plant are so bend almost 90 degrees. The result is two deeply veined they actually seem quilted, neatly aligned, parallel rows of leaves. and it is one of the few hoyas whose spurs Indigenous to the Himalayas, the flow split into two independent ones. H. ma ers of H. linearis are imbued with the sweet r- : -;;-' crophylla has an umbel that is also atypical scent of lemons. Its crisp, snowflake-white S d because its blooms flower sequentially in blooms are subtly accented by a faintly I Burpees® free I a circular pattern rather than in the more pink corona. As with all pendulous vari common simultaneous fashion. eties, the initial growth is always upwards, I 1982 seed catalog! I H. but, because of its weight, stems finally A few species, such as multiflora, I It's packed with over 400 vegetables and I grow in a more bush-like manner. This pour over the pot, cascading to the ground. 650 flower s-including new varieties I delicate yet shrubby plant has one of the All hoy as, with their charm, mystery and and Burpee excl usives I Plus fruit s, I shrubs, garden aids, and more! Send for most beautiful flowers in the genus. The exotic beauty, are a fascinating adventure yours now' brilliantly white and yellow flowers re into rich, tropical jungles, but best of all I I mrve, resembling tiny rockets. An umbel they are as close as your local greenhouse. I I The Hoya Society and Sources I I The recently formed Hoya Society International is an excellent source for additional I I information, offering its members varied articles, correspondence, research reports and quarterly bulletins. Write to Christine M. Burton, #D-9 1445 Monroe Dr., I I NE, Atlanta, GA 30324 for membership information. I I Hoya Sources Sunnybrook Farms Nursery, 9448 Mayfield Rd., Chesterland, OH 44026 I mail today! I Silverman's Hoyas, 35 Stuart St., Lynbrook, NY 11563 (list, $.50) W. Atlee Burpee Co. . . I 10-22 Burpee Building in ... Martz Bromeliads, 10782 Citrus Dr., Moor Park, CA 93021 I Warminster, PA 18974 or Clinton, IA 52732 Loyce's Flowers, Rt. 2, Box 11, Granbury, TX (list, $.50) I or PO. Box 748, Riverside, CA 92502. I Logee's Greenhouses, 55 North St., Danielson, CT (color catalog, $2) ~~ (Please print) I Green Plant Research, P.O. Box 735, Kaaawa, HI 96730 Address ______The Glass House Works, 10 Church St., Stuart, OH 45778 I Chula Orchids, 230 Chula Vista St., Chula Vista, CA 92019 0 I City I State Zip _____ lf you ordered from Burpee in 1981. your new Ca tal0:.J L.;will ------be sent to you aut omaticall y.) American Horticulturist 35 DW ARF CONIFER COLLECTION CONTD Continued from page 23 whereby arboreta and nurseries can pool their resources and distribute unusual specimens. She carries out winter propa gation of the conifers, when due to dor mancy they are most amenable to this process. Then there is the inevitable grounds maintenance, which curators must now perform due to funding cuts. "I remember that a visitor from Kew was amazed that our curators actually did physical work, rather than just administrate," she says. The cultural requirements of dwarf con ifers are few. Regular fertilization is not necessary, as this encourages rank growth that destroys the dwarfing effect. The most constant demand is for maintenance prun ing. "When these plants were donated, no one had any idea how big they would grow," says Frost. "After 17 years, some of the dwarves turned out not to be so RIGHT: The dwarf. Some plants reverted to normal size Collection, shown and had to be removed." Foliar revisions here balled and burlaped, was moved are a major headache and must be pruned from Gotelli's estate out promptly, for reverted foliage is much in New Jersey to the more vigorous than its dwarf counterpart National Arboretum and would soon dominate the specimen. in 1962. ABOVE: Sue Insect infestations are rare, but when Frost, curator of the Collection. long periods of hot, dry weather set in, spider mites can be a problem on junipers and spruces. Mites, along with bagworms, are treated with Orthene. Dormant oil in March inhibits scale. Preemergent weed control is handled with Treflan and pos temergent control with Round-Up. The planting is also mulched with crushed blue stone and a layer of black plastic to con serve moisture and retard weed growth. But enough of culture and insects-let us consider the obvious beauty and won der of the exhibit. Superbly designed by metallic, blue berries as large as those of Pendula'; and the short, stubby growth of John Jennings, the Collection successfully any Vaccinium. One cannot help but imag Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira', which nat blends together, amid simulated rock out ine other landscape uses for these plants urally resembles the meticulously trained croppings, horticuftural specimens of widely yet still admire the skill by which they are habit of an ancient bonsai. disparate appearances. To walk slowly here displayed. The Gotelli Collection provides a sanc among the plants is to experience the colors, As the size of the junipers attests, the tuary for some truly rare plants. One of explore the range of shapes and sizes, revel Gotelli Dwarf Conifer Collection contains them, Cedrus deodara, 'Pygmaea', was in the differing textures. One feels chal much more than dwarf conifers. Inter willed to Mr. Gotelli from a West Coast lenged and calmed at the same time. spersed among the original plants are spec donor. Gotelli sent cuttings to Hillier's Prostrate junipers exemplify this imens of other genera, installed by the nursery in England for propagation, and impression. The glaucous ascending spikes Arboretum to add contrast and interest it is fortunate that he did, for the original of Juniperus horizontalis 'Admirabilis', and to extend the textural range. Thus, plant subsequently died in transport. A resembling a miniature forest, contrast with examples of dwarf Chaenomeles, Spiraea, rooted cutting now survives as part of the the feathery plumes of Juniperus horizon Hypericum, Cotoneaster and !lex are to Gotelli exhibit. Another singular speci talis 'Douglasii'. These two cultivars are be found growing with the conifers. In men, Abies chensiensis, came to the Ar very distinct from the fine, rapier-pointed addition, Gottelli donated many large con boretum through the auspices of the USDA foliage of Juniperus chinensis ifers and Japanese maples. One can there Experimental Station in Glenn Dale, 'Echiniformis'-"the one that hurts to fore observe the startling striped needles Maryland. One's first impression of this prune"--or the bright-green tones of Jun of Pinus wallichiana 'Zebrina'; the sun tree is that it is, in Sue Frost's words, "totally iperus conferta 'Emerald Sea', with its dipped branches of Cedrus deodara 'Aurea plastic." This is because the tree sports 36 December 1981 Catalogue for Gardeners extremely heavy, stiff needles, the upper widely available in local nurseries. More surfaces of which are a very glossy dark over, the Arboretum recently set aside a green, while bright, white stomatic lines special section adjacent to the Collection span the needles' undersides. As a result, devoted entirely to locally available dwarf "On a sunny day, the tree reflects so much conifers. Issued light it's almost impossible to see," says To Sue Frost the exhibit remains a con Osnothera missouriensis Spring and Fa ll . Oza rk Sundrop s Frost. stant challenge. A future project is to re each co ntains an abu nda nce Visitors to the Collection are naturally place group labeling with individual labels of hardy pla nt varieties and interested in where they can obtain dwarf to facilitate easier plant identification .. Her useful cultura l information. evergreens for planting in their home land immediate concern, however, is the re scapes. Fortunately, the Collection con duction of overcrowding caused by spec _ \HoIhrook Farm tains many plants- for example, Juniperus imens growing beyond expected limits. This, horizontalis 'Wiltonii' (blue rug juniper) she says, "is a little like painting the Golden ,. &Nursery and Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Lutea' Gate Bridge. As soon as you finish on one Route 2, Box 223B, 2010 (golden hinoki false cypress)-that are end, you start again on the other." Fletcher, N.C. 28732 I'm interested . Enclosed is $1 .00 whic h is deductible with my first order . Please se nd me your new catalogue starti ng with the Spring Dwarf Conifers in Your Own Garden 1982 issue . Other than prostrate junipers and mugo pines, relatively few dwarf evergreens are found in American home gardens. This is indeed unfortunate, because dwarf ever Name greens seem to satisfy the basic need of every weekend gardener, namely, "What Address can I plant that grows to only the height I want and then stops?" Actually, no dwarf evergreen ever stops growing (unless, of course, it dies ). It City ______just grows so slowly that the increase in size is barely noticeable. This attribute Zip _____ frees the gardener from the nasty, arduous task of trimming the plant for two State ___ _ _ minutes every month and allows him to devote that time to more meaningful Perennia ls • Wildflowers endeavors, such as studying astrology or polishing the hot tub. Bulb. • Soloctod Woody Plant. Because dwarf evergreens come in such a wide assortment of shapes, sizes and colors, they can be used in a variety of landscaping situations: foundation plantings, rock gardens and edging along a bed or walk. But, in my opinion, the best way to use dwarf evergreens is on a raised berm. The very shape of the berm -ascending Beautify to rounded peaks, undulating into valleys - lends interest. Moreover, because the Your Home ... berm rises away from the observer, plants situated behind others of equal or slightly ... or office all year long with our greater size can still be completely viewed. attractive, color-illustrated Endan Since the berm is established as a speciality garden for displaying dwarf ever gered Plant Calendar. This poster greens, it allows one to incorporate much more diversity into the planting than style calendar features illustrations would otherwise be considered tasteful. One can, for instance, include such colorful by botanical illustrator Mary Rankin specimens as globe blue spruce (Picea pungens 'Globosa'), gold threadbranch cy of some of America's rarest and most press (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea'), and the burnt orange Rheingold unusual plant life. A wonderful and arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold') and, as long as they are separated by useful Christmas present! a few more naturally colored shrubs, no one is likely to scream at you too much. o Please send me__ copies of the Of course, there is no reason why the berm has to display just dwarf evergreens Endangered Plant Calendar at - for additional interest, you can include shrubs that are either not dwarf or not $5.00 each. (No billing.) evergreen. A dwarf crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Petite') will enrich the garden with its crinkled, lace-like blooms in late summer, a time when such flowers o Please send me more information about NRDC's Plant Conservation are scarce. The tall, slender skyrocket juniper Uuniperus virginiana 'Skyrocket') project! wi ll add height to the garden and provide an attractive backdrop for lower-growing plants. Send calendar(s) to: Most of the dwarf evergreens and other plants mentioned are available in retail Namt?: ______nurseries. Mail-order nurseries also carry these plants, and a brief source list of such firms follows. Address:______Source List Alpenglow Gardens, 13328 King George Highway, Surrey, British Columbia, City: ______Canada V3T 2T6 Hortica Gardens, P.O. Box 308, Placerville, California 95667 State: ______~Zip: ---- Oliver Nurseries, 1159 Bronson Road, Fairfield, Connecticut 06430 Mail Coupon and check to: Rice Creek Gardens, 1315 66th Avenue, N.E., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55432 Calendar White Flower Farm, Litchfield, Connecticut 06759.6 Natural Resources Defense Council 122 West 42nd Street, New York, N. Y. 10168 American Horticulturist 37 PLANTS FOR THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST FLOWERING lREES lowering trees are a major feature of gardens in the Pacific North F west. In the moderate climate west Average Height and Width in Feet of Flowering Trees of the Cascade Mountains, a wide range After 5 and 10 Years at the of ornamentals, including southern plants North Willamette Experiment Station such as Magnolia grandiflora, are grown. East of the Cascades, the winter temper Average Height in Feet Average Spread in Feet atures regularly drop to 0° F or lower and At At5 At 10 At At5 At10 the rainfall is light, so the range of plants Scientific Name Planting Years Year, Planting Years Years grown is more restricted. Aesculus X carnea 'Brotti' 5.6 8 .8 18.0 2.1 6.8 20.0 At Oregon State University's North Albizia julibrissin 5.9 11.8 17.6 0.0 16.2 25.5 8.2 21.7 0.4 6.0 16.7 Willamette Experiment Station, a Land Catalpa bignonioides 1.7 Comus florida 'Cherokee Chief' 3.2 7.7 11 .8 1.0 4.2 8.6 scape Tree Evaluation Program has been C. f. 'Cloud Nine' 2.7 8.1 12.5 1.5 5.5 9.7 in progress since 1965. The objective has C. f. 'Rainbow' 4.0 5.9 12.6 1.7 4.5 12.9 been to evaluate the performance of land C. f. 'Rubra' 3.9 8.6 14.6 2.0 6.7 12.5 scape trees in the following categories: C. f. 'Welchii' 2.5 6.0 10.7 2.1 4.5 7.0 C. kousa vaL chinensis 5.3 11.0 15.9 2.3 5.4 10.1 growth in height and width, time of fo l C. nuttallii 'Colrigo Giant' 1.1 10.7 17.3 0.1 5.7 8.1 iation, flowering, fruiting and fall color. C. n. 'Goldspot' 5.1 10.3 18.1 2.1 6.5 12.3 The trees are also evaluated for problems Davidia involucrata 2.2 9.2 17.3 1.1 6.1 11.6 with cold, disease, insects or wind. Per Koelreuteria paniculata 2.2 8.9 17.3 1.7 9.0 19.8 20.9 1.8 10.5 14.0 formance for up to 10 years is recorded, Laburnum X wateri 'Yossi' 9.3 14.2 Magnolia X loebnerii 'Merrill' 1.7 8.8 17.6 0.3 5.7 8.5 then most trees are removed to make room M. soulangiana 2.3 6.6 12.5 1.3 4.8 10.7 for new selections. M. stellata 2.8 5.9 12.0 1.5 4.8 8.0 When possible, several cu ltivars andlor Oxydendrum arboreum 4.0 6.9 10.9 1.8 4.2 7.4 6.2 varieties of a single genus such as Cercis, Prunus serrulata 'Amanogawa' 6.9 14.1 20.6 0.4 3.4 P. s. 'Kwanzan' 3.3 16.5 28.8 0.3 8.2 20.1 Cornus or Magnolia are planted at the same Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' 3.2 19.6 29.7 0.3 8.8 22.1 time so that comparisons can be made. As Stewartia pseudo camellia 3.5 9.8 15.7 1.8 4.9 9.6 an example, 12 cultivars of Cornus florida Syringa amurensis japonica 3.4 9.2 16.8 0.6 4.6 9.2 have been planted, including 'Springtime', which appeared to me to be the best white flowered cultivar at the U.S. National Ar leaved cultivar could be satisfactory. of the Cornelian cherry, Cornus officinalis. boretum in Washington, D.C. At the ex The average height and width of selected M. campbellii subsp. mollicomata, which periment station, however, 'Cloud Nine' trees in the trial at planting, after five years, is available from specialist growers, can has grown better and flowered more heav and after 10 years, are shown in Table 1. grow to 60 feet or taller, but there are other ily. Regional evaluation is thus an impor These measurements were made on trees early flowering magnolias of more modest tant means of ensuring that only the best growing in fertile, well drained soil that size for small properties. M. X loebneri selections are brought to public attention. received summer irrigation. There was no 'Merrill ' has white flowers larger than those T~s ting at the station also takes into competition from grass or other plants, so of the bushy star magnolia (M. stellata) account plant availability, which can be a the sizes reported may be larger than those and quickly becomes a small tree. Culti problem due to a lack of supply of prom growing under less favorable conditions, vars with white to dark purplish-red flow ising trees and and over-supply of unsuit but the relative growth rate should hold ers are available in the saucer magnolia, able cultivars. Plants not available in at quite well for the area. These trees and M. X soulangiana, which grows to 25 feet least some of the garden centers of the some others that grow well in the Pacific with an even wider spread. Pacific Northwest will not be mentioned Northwest will be discussed individually Other early blooming trees include the in this account of the station's findings. and should be considered by gardeners flowering plums and the Bradford pear. Two plants that are widely available but in the area. The table will be helpful in The purple-leaved plums, Prunus cerasi cannot be recommended because of prob choosing a tree of appropriate size for your fera 'Blireiana' and 'Thundercloud', are lems are Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scar garden. great favorites with their pink and light let' and Magnolia grandiflora 'Majestic Trees blooming before the end of March pink to white flowers. When the plums are Beauty'. 'Paul's Scarlet' is defoliated by a are favorites since they signal the end of in leaf, the root system is sometimes in leaf spot disease each August unless heav the dull, cloudy winter. Blooms range in adequate to hold the dense round head ily sprayed. Limb breakage by strong winds size from the 10- to IS-inch pink flowers upright during a strong wind if the soil is limits the usefulness of 'Majestic Beauty'. of Magnolia campbellii subsp. mollicom soaked. Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' is still In wind sheltered areas, this attractive, large- ata to the tiny, individual yellow flowers relatively rare in the area but is worth 38 December 1981 Slow and easy and barefoot. Exploring an underwater world On the beaches of Martinique, Bimini, teeming with colorful and exotic life. Tortola. In the native ports of Antiqua, Dancing to the throb of native steel Nelson's Harbor and Dominique. drums 'til the wee hours of morning. On the decks of a beautiful sailing Single, married or family folk , we' ll fill schooner full of great grub and grog. your life with a lifetime of memories. In the crystal clear waters Windjammer. The hottest way to cool it. of the Caribbean. Under the warmth of the tropical sun. Six days and nights of solid adventure Slow and easy and adventurous. from only $425 with liberal discount Discovering forgotten beaches and caves. to firemen and groups. Standing the midnight watch under a thousand stars. Taking the wheel 1IJIndIcunmCI 'lkvafoofCIuiN and sailing a 190 foot schooner under Post Office Box 120, Miami Beach, Fla. 33139. billowing white sail. Reservations toU free 1-800-327-2600. Cap'nMlke Windjammer 'Barefoot' Cruises P.O. Box 120, Dept. Name ______------Miami Beach, Florida 33139 Address' ____~ ______~ ______Help me put out my fire . I want to cool it in the Caribbean City/Stale/Zip, __~ ------______------for 6 days and nights from $425. Phone ______Send me your free, full color 'Great Adventure' booklet. PLANTS FOR THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST CONT'D growing for its early white flowers and but can be grown with a single stem form rapid growth, even if fall color doesn't The Pacific Northwest's ing a 30-foot tree. Large white flower clus usually develop. contribution to the ters which appear in June smell like privet. From the beginning to the end of the dogwood clan is the Pacific Cherry-like bark adds winter interest. Jap blooming season, dogwoods make an im anese stewartia, Stewartia pseudo camellia, portant contribution to the floral beauty dogwood, Comus nuttaUii, is a triple interest tree: three-inch flowers of the Pacific Northwest. Before the offi the giant of the group. in late June and July, good fall color and cial end of winter, the Cornelian cherry exfoliating bark all add to its appeal. Ste blooms with its clusters of tiny yellow Fuji) with strong horizontal branching and wartia will take many years to reach its flowers, followed by three-quarter-inch red semi double white flowers. P. subhirtella listed 60-foot height. Growing quickly into fruit that can be made into preserves. 'Autumnalis' has a rounded form and opens a 30-50 foot tree is the southern catalpa, The Pacific Northwest's contribution to its double white to pinkish flowers in Catalpa bignonioides, whose large, broad the list of flowering trees is the Pacific the fall and often again in January and leaves are a perfect foil for the upright dogwood, C. nuttallii, which is the giant February. spikes of two-inch white flowers which of the clan. It grows to 70 feet with larger Flowering crab apples haven't been as appear in July. leaves and flowers than other dogwoods. popular in the Pacific Northwest as they Continuing the bloom period into late Blooming in April, it has more showy bracts have been in other parts of the United States, July and August are three wlorful trees. (6 vs. 4) than the flowering dogwood, C. possibly because of poor appearance caused Sourwood, Oxydendrum arboreum, has florida, or the kousa dogwood, C. kousa. by apple scab. While there are many new drooping clusters of white flowers fol Available cultivars are 'Colrigo Giant', a cultivars grown in wholesale nurseries in lowed by light-green seed capsules con very vigorous cultivar with six-inch flow the a[(;l a, those most readily available at trasting with the brilliant red fall color. ers, and 'Goldspot', whose leaves are flecked retail are older cultivars that have shown This slow growing, 30- to 40-foot tree needs with yellow. 'Goldspot' consistently blooms some scab resistance. The carmine crab the same conditions as a rhododendron. in the spring and fall. Recently, anthrac apple, Malus X atrosanguinea, has fra The golden-rain tree, Koelreuteria pani nose has caused defoliation and stem die grant, rose-pink flowers and yellow fruit culata, is a wide spreading, 30- to 35-foot back during wet springs in the Puget Sound on a small to medium sized, broad tree. tree with 14-inch upright clusters of small area. 'Dolgo', one of its cultivars, becomes a 40- yellow flowers. The inflated seed capsules More adaptable to garden conditions is foot tree with profuse white flowers and are good for flower arranging. Pink pow the eastern U. S. native, C. florida, which edible red, 1 Y2-inch fruit. The showy crab der puff blossoms that open from July to slowly grows into a 30- to 40-foot tree. apple, M. floribunda, is interesting for its September is a winning characteristic of Fall color is a feature of most selections in contrast of red buds and white flowers and the silk tree, Albizia julibrissin. This fast addition to the flowers in late April and for yellow and red fruit on a small tree. growing tree reaches 35 feet and spreads May. 'Cherokee Chief' has dark-red flow There are a number of other interesting its fine foliage even farther. Unfortunately, ers but generally C. florida 'Rubra' forms flowering trees also blooming in April and like other fast growing trees, it is subject are darker in the cool spring temperatures May that make good additions to the land to wind breakage and wood rot. of the Pacific Northwest than in the warmer scape, however, none of these has good Most of the trees mentioned in this ar temperatures of the East. 'Cloud Nine' has fall color. The red horse chestnut, Aesculus ticle are available in better garden centers profuse white flowers even on young plants. X carnea, has pink to red upright flower in USDA Zones 5-8 of the Pacific North Grown for their variegated foliage rather trusses borne on a coarse leaved, coarse west. An exception is Magnolia campbellii than their white flowers are 'Rainbow', branched tree that attains a height of 40 subsp. mollicomata, which is available from with yellow and green leaves, and 'Welchii', feet with a 30-foot spread. Refined is a magnolia specialists in Zones 8 and 9. All with white, pink and green leaves. Ex good adjective for the 30-foot-tall Japa of the trees mentioned will grow on both tending the blooming season into June is nese snowbell, Styrax japonicus, whose sides of the Cascade Mountains except two the kousa dogwood, whose starlike white faintly fragrant, three-quarter-inch white magnolias (M. campbellii subsp. molli flowers are followed by rosy-red fruit with bells hang below the branches, while the comata and M. grandiflora), Cornus nut an edible pulp. three-inch leaves angle up giving a green tallii and Albizia julibrissin. April and May are the peak blooming and white tiered effect. Also white flow The following mail-order firms supply months for flowering trees as well as for ered is the dove tree, Davidia involucrata, most of the cultivars listed: flowering shrubs. Of the many genera a 35-foot tree whose large, white bracts Source list blooming at that time, flowering cherries look like white doves among the green Gossler Farms, 1200 Weaver Road, are probably the mOst popular trees. Masses leaves. Most dove trees are raised from Springfield, OR 97477. of white or pink flowers cover the small seed and may take 10 years to bloom. Long Columbia and Okanogan Nursery, Box to medium sized plants, and generally there chains of bright-yellow, pea type flowers 116, Wenatchee, WA 98801. are no fruits to litter the ground. Bright hang from the narrow crown of the gol Wayside Gardens, Hodges, SC 29695. orange and red fall color is another asset. denchain tree, Laburnum X watereri W. Atlee Burpee Company, 300 Park Some of the better cultivars are Prunus 'Vossi'. The colorful flowers are the one Avenue, Warminster, PA 18991. ft serrulata 'Amanogawa' with columnar reason for growing this 30-foot tree. -Dr. Robert L. Ticknor habit and light-pink flowers, 'Kwanzan' Summer blooming trees are few but with an inverted cone shape and large, choice. The Japanese tree lilac, Syringa Dr. Robert L. Ticknor is a Professor of double pink flowers, and 'Shirotae' (Mt. reticulata, tends to develop multiple stems Horticulture at Oregon State University. 40 December 1981 AHS REMINDS YOU OF IMPORTANT MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS: GEICO PREFERRED PROGRAMS FOR lOW-COST AUTO AND HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE' The coupon below is special. Because the Society has low-cost insurance for homeowners, renters and owners arranged to have GEICO PREFERRED programs of condominiums. Your application wi ll receive special available to you, you can use the coupon to request a free consideration. rate quotation from GEl CO. If you quali fy, you may YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE YOUR OWN COVERAGE. save money on auto and home insurance. As a Society member, you are entitled to extra consideration for The coverages GEICO offers vary by state, but you advantages like these: have many options in putting together your car and home insurance packages, both in the amounts and LOW RATES FOR QUALIFIED DRIVERS. kinds of protection. You also get a wide choice of conve GEICO PREF ERRED insures those members of pre nient payment plans. GEICO auto insurance is not ferred groups-like AHS-whose driving records are available in New Jersey and Massachusetts. Home better than average. Better drivers cost GEICO less. owner insurance is not available in New J ersey and And these savings result in low rates. Mississippi. GUARANTEED ONE- YEAR RATE ON YOUR AUTO YOU GET GEICO PREFERRED TREATMENT. POLICY AS WRITTEN. All Society member inquiries receive prompt, prefer Many auto insurance compani es now offer on ly 6- ential service by a GEICO PREFERRED Insurance month auto poli cies. But as long as you don't change the Cou nselor. conditions of your policy, GEICO PREFERRED rates FOR FREE RATE QUOTATION are guaranteed to remain the same for a full year-so CALL COLLECT (301) 986- 3344 you don't risk having your rate in creased after just 6 months. Your AHS membership entitles you to special consid eration for low-cost auto and home insurance. Good LOW- COST HOME INSURANCE, TOO. drivers, find out how much you may save. For free rate Just check the appropriate box at the bottom of the quotation, call (301) 986-3344 collect. Or mail this cou coupon, and you will also receive free information on pon. No obligation. No salesman will call. r------, THIS RATE REQUEST FORM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY AHS FOR YOUR BENEFIT. Send to: GEICO PREFERRED, GEICO Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20076. If student away at school, how many miles to school? Name~ ______miles. 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If " yes" explain ______• For accidents, violations, or lic~nse suspension, give dates and complete details, including cost of damages, on a separate sheet. 718 L ______2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ______~ GEICO and Affiliates. Corporate Headquarters: Washington, D.C. 20076 GARImERS~IPlAC,_E----- CLASSIFIED AD RATES: 50¢ per word; $10.00 total color plant catalog featuring hundreds of HOUSE PLANTS minimum per insertion. 10% discount for three Orchid Cactus (Epiphyllums), Rhipsalis, Rattail UNUSUAL INDOOR PLANTS. 1,800 Vari consecutive insertions using same copy. Copy Cacti, Hoyas, Nightblooming Cacti, Starter eties-Begonias, Exotics, Geraniums, Cacti, must be received two months prior to publi Collections, Books, multiple discounts and win Oxalis, Herbs. Catalog with color $2.00. Lo cation date. Send orders to the attention of Cindy ter BONUS specials. All for $1.00 (deductible) : gee's Greenhouses, AH, 55 North Street, Weakland, American Horticultural Society, RAINBOW GARDENS, Box 721-AH, La Ha Danielson, CT 06239. Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121. Or call (703) bra, CA 90631. ORCHIDS, GESNERIADS, BEGONIAS, CACTI 768-5700. Join the CACTUS OF THE MONTH CLUB. & SUCCULENTS. Visitors welcome. 1982-83 Catalog $1.25. LAURAY OF SALISBURY, Rt. AUDUBON T"FEEDER List of Exotic cacti for stamp. For your fi~st SURPRISE cactus send $2.95 to: CALIFORNIA 41 (Undermountain Rd.), Salisbury, CT 06068 Special offer for large capacity squirrel-proof CACTUS PAD, 88 McKee Street, Dept. AHS, (203) 435-2263. bird feeder complete with post direct from man Ventura, CA 93001. EXOTIC FOLIAGE PLANTS, Variegatc:s, Suc ufacturer. CLARKE PRODUCTS CO. INC, Box culents, Hoyas, Sansevierias, Cycads, Ferns, 391, West Hartford, CT 06107 (203) 236-3378. CARNIVOROUS PLANTS Bonsai, Flowering bushes and trees, ground Carnivorous, woodland terrarium plants and cover, LANDSCAPING MATERIALS, Bam BONSAI suppli(ls. Book, The World of Carnivorous Plants, BONSAI-Indoor and Outdoor plants, Books, boo, Palms, Aloes, Haworthias, Bulbs, Ever $6.50 postpaid. Illustrated catalog 25 ¢, Peter greens, Azaleas, Camellias. Catalog and Imported Pots. Catalog "AH" $1.00 Refund Pauls Nurseries, Canafldaigua, NY 14424. able. THE BONSAI FARM, 13827 Hwy. 87 newsletters. $4. Endangered Species, 12571 (F) South, Adkins, TX 78101 (N(lar San Antonio). CORRESPONDENCE COURSES Redhill, Tustin, CA 92680 Interested in Home Lawns-Send $9.00 for Penn BONSAI TREES State's Conespondence Course to, GM LAWNS, HOYA SPECIAL Grower and Importer of Quality Bonsai. Send Box 5000, University Park, PA 16802 ESTABLISHED HOYAS, 2-3 inch pots, labeled 50¢ for catalog. BRUSSEL'S BONSAI NURS and different, some in bud. Eight each for $17.95 ERY, 305 Colonial Rd., Memphis, TN 38117. DWARF CONIFERS plus $4.00 air and insurance. Descriptive list of Over 100 types of dwarf conifers described by BOOK SEARCH SERVICE 100+ hoyas $1.00. FREE WITH ORDER. SAN size, shape, color and texture. Mail Order. Cat LUIS GARDENS, Rt. 3, Box 269A, Dept. AH, Send your list of wanted gardening books or alog $1.00 (refundable). WASHINGTON San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. general titles to me. (Out of print, antiquarian, EVERGREEN NURSERY, Box 125 AH, South SPECIAL HOYA STARTER COLLECTION second hand.) I'll try to locate them. No obli Salem, NY 10590. gation. Edward F. Smiley, Bookseller, RFD 5, OFFER: 4 different magnificc:nt Hoya plants (shipp(ld out of pots), includes Rainforest Plant 43 Liberty Hill Rd., Bedford, NH 03102. GARDEN FURNITURE Solid T(lakwood Garden Seats-featured in the and Bookshop Catalogs, shipped via AIR. $11.95. BOOKS arborc:tums & gardens of England. The perfect RAINBOW GARDENS, Box 721-AH, La Ha All-color TROPICA enlarged 2nd Edition, 7,000 heirloom gift for church, park or private garden. bra, CA 90631. Credit Cards Accepted! photos, $115.00. Pictorial Cyclopedia EX Send $2.00 (deductible) for the 10-page British INDOOR TROPICAL PLANTS OTICA, 12,000 photos, $78.00. EXOTIC color catalogue and current price list. Precipi PLANT MANUAL, 4,200 photos, $37.50. EX tation, Inc., 17317 Germantown Rd., German HAWAIIAN PLANTS. Our new 1981 catalog OTIC HOUSE PLANTS, 1,200 photos, $8.95. town, MD 20767 (301) 428-3434. is now available and lists many rare and unusual Shipped prepaid if check with order. Circulars plants, seeds and gifts. Send 50¢ postagelhan gladly sent. ROEHRS, Box 125, E. Rutherford, GARDENING dling. HANA GARDENLAND, PO Box 248 NJ 07073. "THE BACKSAVER SHOVEL"-Our nc:w, AH, Hana, Maui, HI 96713. narrow cut tapered shovel moves Ic:ss earth. Digs 48-PAGE ILLUSTRATED CATALOG. 400 MISCELLANEOUS books for indoor, outdoor, hydroponic and smaller, neater holes EASIER ON YOUR BACK! Overall length is five feet-no stopping. Nar Exotic Butterflies, Beetles .. . Africa, Brazil, etc. greenhouse gardening. 25 ¢. CAPABILITY'S, Box 64 Page Catalog. $1.00. COMPLETE SCIEN 114A12, Deer Park) WI 54007. row cut blade averages 5" in width instead of traditional 8V2". Standard 11 W' long blade al TIFIC) PO Box 307-H, Round Lake, IL 60073. Secondhand and rare books on botany and gar lows you to dig deeply without disturbing large PECANS: Quart each halves, pieces, meal. Three dening. Free catalogues issued quarterly. Ian amounts of soil. WRITE FOR FREE ILLUS quart sampler $11.95 postpaid. Tenpeco, Box Jackson, PO Box 9075, Berkeley, CA 94709. TRATED BROCHURE. For a BACKSAVER 638 HO, Rutherford, TN 38369. "STEP BY STEP BOOK OF DRIED BOU SHOVEL send $15.00 (Price includes UPS). Md., QUETS" New 2nd Edition includes 24 color D.C, Va. residents add local sales tax. P.1. Tool ORCHIDS pages, 275 black & white show-and-tell photos. Supply, 17317 Germantown Rd., Germnatown, ORCHIDS! ORCHIDS! ORCHIDS! Brome Diversified Colonial & Modern dried flower MD 20767. Iiads, Staghorn Ferns, Books, Peters Fertilizer arrangements, bridal keepsakes & Williams Potting Mixes, Supplies for indoor and green burg styles. $8.95 plus 85 ¢ post. Also compan GREENHOUSE GROWING house culture. 22 page catalog. 30¢ coin or ion book, the "Step by Step Book of Preserved PROPAGATION BREAKTHROUGH-Don't stamps. FOX ORCHIDS, INC, 6615 West Flowers 2nd Ed." with directions for drying gamble-Use only the best mist controls. Guar Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205. anteed, versatile, portable, indoor, outdoor, with silica gel, microwave, oven heat and hang Three different large cymbidium divisions. Easy ing. Alphabetized Flower Index. $2.95 plus 85 ¢ automatic, economical. Write AQUAMONI growers. Instructions included. $30.00 Post post. Both books $12.75 prepaid. Roberta Mof TOR, Box 327-B, Huntington, NY 11743. paid. ROBERT PATTERSON, 91735 Poodle fitt Designs, PO Box 3597, Wilmington, DE HARPER HORTICULTURAL SLIDE Creek Rd., Noti, OR 97461. 19807. Free Newsletter, send stamp. LIBRARY (PAMELA HARPER) PALM SOCIETY BROMELIADS We supply many of the pictures in this and other PALM SOCIETY members receive our inter THE BROMELIAD TREASURY, Dept. A, of garden magazines. You may rent these and national quarterly journal "Principes." Our Seed fers a selection of decorative species and hybrid 25,000 others, or buy duplicates. Lecture pro Bank distributes seeds of rare palms collected Bromeliads at very reasonable prices. Unique grams on many topics. Cat:llog $1. 219 Ro worldwide. Five chapters in the U.S . meet fre 20 page DESCRIPTIVE LIST, $1.00, refund banna SlilOres, Seaford, VA 23696. able with first order. Also "Bromeliads for quently, enjoy viewing beautiful collections, conduct rare palm sales, and exchange cultural Modern Living," 80 page booklet with 135 HELP WANTED beautiful Bromeliad color photos, $4.00 post GARDENER/CARETAKER. Experienced. Self information. Regular mc:mbership $15 to THE age paid. 639 Bend Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94087. starter. Small northern Westchester, New York PALM SOCIETY, INC, Box 368-AH, Law estate. Lakeside cottage. Good salary. Depend rence, KS 66044. CACTI AND SUCCULENTS able. Mature couple. Recent references. Box CW, 1982 RAINFOREST CACTI CATALOG JUST American Horticultural Society, Mt. Vernon, PHALAENOPSIS (MOTH) ORCHIDS OUT! Our BEST catalog yet!! Brand new 1982 VA 22121. Blooms for months in greenhouse or window- 42 December 1981 sill. Available from flask to blooming size. White, amidata, Stewartia malacodendron. Grown trom herbs, medicinal, edible plants. Illustrated 128 pink, yellow, peppermint, novelry species. Ship native seed or cuttings. Write for prices and page catalo!\. $1.00. Free vegetable catalog, with wimer, weather permitting. Add 15 % shipping shipping dates. SALTER TREE FARM, Rt 2, European & Oriental varieties. WORLD SEED U.S.A. GREEN VALLEY ORCHIDS, Rt. 1, Box Box 1332, Madision, FL 32340 SERVICE, Box 1058-AT, Redwood Ciry, CA 233S, Folsom, LA 70437. 94064. RHODODENDRONS AND AZALEAS FREE CATALOG. Rare, exotic and unusual PROTEA Rhododendrons; evergreen and deciduous aza seeds. For the hobbyist and serious gardener. leas. Hybrids and species, dwarf and standard. EVERLASTING FLOWERS! Mail order PR O THE COTTON BOLL, PO Box 156-C, Hayne We ship. Catalog, $1.50. SONOMA HORTI ville, AL 36040. TEA BOUQUETS $15/up . Seeds, Books, Post CULTURAL NURSERY, 3970 Azalea Avenue, ers. PROTEA GARDENS OF MAUL, RR #2, Sebastopol, CA 95472. Box 389, Kula, HI 96790. UNUSUAL PLANTS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES SEEDS RARE MAPLE SEED Containerized starter-plants of. Wild Fruits. GROW EVERGREENS from seed yea r round. JAPANESE MAPLES, UNUSUAL SPECIES Conifers . Hardy Western Natives. Bee Plants Indoors, outdoors and in greenhouse. Compl ete • Other Ornamentals. Wealth of information AND SELECTED CUL TIVARS. Small packets instructions $1.00. Send stamp for price list. for collectors, specia lists and bonsai use. Send in our descriptive list-$1.00. FORESTFARM, Free sample packet with all inquiries. Recor's 990 Tetherah, Williams, OR 97544. 18¢ for list. MAPLEWOOD SEED COM Tree Seed, 640 EI Paso, Denver, CO 80221. PANY, 6219-A S.W. Dawn, Lake Oswego, OR WATER PURIFICA nON BY REVERSE 97034. From Texas garden ten bluebonnet seeds $1.00; long as supply lasts. Box 14092, Arlington, TX OSMOSIS Have healthier looking plants and flowers. Easy RARE NATIVE PLANTS 76013-0360. Do-It-Yourself installation and operation. Make UNCOMMON SEEDS Rarely offered southern species, woody and all the desalted, purified water you need for herbaceous, all nursery-grown, including large Our latest catalog features many new seeds and pennies a gallon. Ideal for all your drinking and selection of southeastern natives, many hardy bulbs not previously offered. If you are a serious cooking needs. 5 Gal.lDay unit = $65.00; 15 northward, and newly introduced exoti cs se grower of uncommon plants, our catalog is spe Gal.lDay unit = $98.00. Completely warranted lected for southern gardens. Send SASE fo r mail cially for you. Catalog 25 ¢ . The Banana Tree, and a money back offer if not completely sat order list. WOODLANDERS, 1128 Co ll eton 715 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042. isfied. Shipments made by UPS. Information Ave., Aiken, SC 29801. WORLD'S LA RGEST SELECTION of qualiry catalog $5.00. Will apply toward your pur Rhododendron chapmanii, R. austrinum, R. rare seeds from every continent. Thousands of chase. Mail your check to Spiral Filtration, 747 speciosum, R. serrulatum, R. prunifolium, exoti c ornamentals, tropicals, houseplants, No. Twin Oaks Valley Rd. #13, San Marcos, Magnolia ashei (Weaherby), Magnolia pyr- palms, flowers, bulbs, perennials, crees, rare CA 92069. LIVING WITH PLANTS A Gardener's Guide to Practical Botany How Does Your by Donna N. Schumann • Builds on the fundamentals of plant structure, function, and ecology Garden Grow? to explain the WHY of gardening techniques. • For beginners, but contains detailed infor- mation useful to experienced gardeners. . ;?"..'. American Horticulturist is not only filled • Numerous drawings, photographs, tables, ·.0:} t~ / ~ ' , and graphs. I , . -- with beautiful pictures, but also with helpful 325 pages gardening information which you will want 7x8Vl ISBN 0-916422-20·8 to refer back to time and time again. $14.95 (regular, out of state) $15.32 (California residents) Discount price if you belong to the American Horticultural Society and Now you can keep your issues of Ameri order directly from them. (See review in American Horticulturist Feb. can Horticulturist all in one place for 1981) quick, handy reference. These attractive binders will hold 18 issues. That's three £' The Biology of the years' worth of gardening know-how. fr ro.r- BROMELIADS Our magazine title is a ttractively em by David H. Benzing bossed in gold on a rich, leather-like • A comprehensive treatment of the structure, green spine. Easily applied gold numbers \ function, and ecology of bromeliads, including are included to help you add dates and 11 ~II techniques for growing them. volume numbers. _-_= -~,\ $14.95 (out of state) ticultural Society, Mount Vernon, Vir II ~ \" I .If<",' iA $15.32 (California residents) All prices include postage and handling. ginia 22121 and we will fill your order {,iI I ~ ">-. /'-~i\1\;. ! - J~/' ,f \\II j/,/ ' I ~N 'Y " C'(Y' ,i/ I Send check or money order to : promptly. '1 '\::-- __ ./ /~ ~\ .J : .; Ii MAD RIVER PRESS-Dept. AHS Rt. 2, Box 151-B Virginia residents, add 4% sales tax . . ' --- ':c~/~l . I;: Eureka, CA 95501 w American Horticulturist 43 IND~------ A Subject/Author/Title Index to Petersen, Bernice. Denver: Tropics Buttercup Family, The Logania Family, The. August 4. articles published in 1981. to Tundra. April 4. Ranunculaceae Family. Low-Maintenance Garden, Prince, Martha. April Diary. April February 8. Planning A. October 34. AUTHOR 24; Confessions of a Lazy Camellias in Containers. Dec 16. Maples, Evergreen. August 28. Cashew Family, The. Dec 9. Aitken, Peter G. The Robinson Gardener. June 28. Meserve, Kathleen, Developer of York State Herb Garden. June 5. Rackemann, Adelaide C. Aroid Cold Frame, The. August 12. Blue Hollies. December 29. Family, The. October 12. Color, Using in the Garden, Baetjer, George. Crystal Springs. Montpellier: A Thousand Year Sanson, Valerie. Autumn in Using Color Effectively. August 16. Plant Heritage. April 29. February 38. Bender, Stephen. The Gotelli England. June 22. Moss Canoe, How to Make a .. . Sansregret, Jane. Rhododendron Computer Vegetables. October 31. Dwarf Conifer Collection. June 10. Species Foundation. August 19. December 20; Kathleen Confessions of a Lazy Gardener. Nepenthes. April 21. Meserve, Developer of Blue Scopes, Nigel E. A. Integrated June 28. Orangery, The Kingwood. Hollies. December 29. Pest Control. February 26. Container Gardening, Gardening October 29. Smith, Lauralee V. Nepenthes. Brown, Joan Sayers. The William in Containers. June 19. Ornamental Trees. October 16. April 21. Paca House Garden. October 20. Containers, Camellias in ... Paca, William House Garden. Steffey, Jane. The Cashew Family. December 16. Burgess, Lorraine Marshall. October 20. December 8. The Laurel Crystal Springs. August 16. Peonies, Japanese Tree Peonies. Hardy Anemones for Perennial Family. April 8; The Logania Gardens. February 28; Denver: Tropics to Tundra. April 4. February 17. Family. August 4; The England, Autumn in . .. June 22. Peanuts, Growing Peanuts in Lavender Gardens. June 27. Ranunculaceae Family. Cannon, Mrs. Ralph. Evergreen Maples. August 28. Containers. February 4. February 8; The Saxifrage Kirengeshoma Palmata. Ferns in Herbals. April 15. Perennials, A Selection of Family. June 12. February 33; Lilies in Name Fire Retardant Plants. October 4. Perennials for the Garden. Ticknor, R.L. Flowering Trees for Only. June 15. Garden in the Village, A. April 23 . April 17. the Pacific Northwest. Carleton, R. Milton. Using Color Gardening in Containers. June 19. Pest Control, Integrated Pest December 38. Effectively. February 38. Gardens: Autumn in England. Control. Fepruary 26. Vertrees, J.D. Evergreen Maples. Crater, G. Douglas. Growing June 22; Crystal Springs. Pitcher Plants, Nepenthes. April 21. August 28. Peanuts in Containers. August 16; Denver: Tropics to Planning a Low-Maintenance Watson, Donald. Fire Retardant February 4. Tundra. April 4; A Garden in Garden. October 34. Plants. October 4. DeBlasi, Anthony. Japanese Tree the Village. April 23; Gotelli Plant Breeding, From Plant Wilson, James W. From Plant Peonies. February 17; Dwarf Conifer Collection. Breeders to Home Gardeners: Breeders to Home Gardeners: Camellias in Contai ners. December 20; Rhododendron Selecting the Plants We Grow. Selecting the Plants We Grow. December 16. Species Foundation. August 19; April 38. April 38. Dove, James A., Jr. Tea Relatives. Robison York State Herb Plants for: Annual garden. Wott, John: Computer August 20. Garden. June 5; Swiss Gardens. February 12; Containers. June Vegetables. October 31. Foster, F. Gordon. Ferns in August 23; William Paca 19; Fire Retardance. October Wright, A. St. Clair. Lessons We Herbals. April 15. House Garden. October 20. 4; Lavender Gardens. June 27; Can Learn From Chelsea. Hagan, Patti. How to Make a Gladiolus, Growing the Low-Maintenance Garden. December 2. Moss Canoe. June 10. Gladiolus. February 24. October 34; Perennial Garden. Yanda, Bill. Solar Greenhouses. Heimlich, Alexander Irving. A Gotelli Dwarf Conifer April 17. August 31. Selection of Dwarf Annuals for Collection, The. December 20. Ranunculaceae Family, The. Yang, Linda. A Garden in the the Garden. February 12; A Growing Peanuts in Containers. February 8. Village. April 23 . Selection of Perennials for the February 4. Rhododendron Species Garden. April 17. Hardy Anemones for Perennial Foundation. August 19. Heintze, Steven. Hoyas. SUBJECTI TITLE Gardens. February 28. Robinson York State Herb December 24. Amelanchiers. October 26. Herb Garden, Robison York State Garden, The. June 5. Iversen, Richard. Amelanchiers. Anemones, Hardy Anemones for Herb Garden, The. June 5. Saxifrage Family, The. June 12. October 26. Perennial Gardens. February History of Horticulture, Solar Greenhouses. August 31. Jackson, Donald W. Growing the 28. Montpellier: A Thousand Year Strange Relatives: Aroid Family. Gladiolus. February 24; Annuals, A Selection of Dwarf Plant Heritage. April 29. October 12; Cashew Family. Ornamental Trees. October 16. Annuals for the Garden. Hollies, Blue. Kathleen Meserve, December 8; Laurel Family. Knecht, Dorothy. Swiss Gardens. February 12. Developer of Blue Hollies. April 8; Logania Family. August 23. April Diary. April 24. Decem ber 29. August 4; Ranunculaceae Laws, Betty Ann. Thyme. Arachis hypogaea, Growing How to Make a Moss Canoe. Family. February 8; Saxifrage December 13. Peanuts in Containers. June 10. Family. June 12. Lee, David W. Montpellier: A February 4. Hoyas. December 24. Swiss Gardens. August 23. Thousand Year Plant Heritage. Aroid Family, The. October 12. Integrated Pest Control. Feb 26. Tea Relatives. August 21. April 29. Autumn in England. June 22. Japanese Tree Peonies. Feb 17. Thyme. December 13. McGourty, Frederick. Gardening Biological Control, Integrated Kingwood Orangery, The. Tree Peonies, Japanese Tree in Containers. June 19. Pest Control. February 26. October 29. Peonies. February 17. McGourty, Mary Ann. The Cold Blue Hollies. Kathleen Meserve; Kirengeshoma Palmata. Feb 33. Trees, Ornamental. October 16; Frame. August 12. Developer of Blue Hollies. Laurel Family, The. April 8. Flowering .. . for the Pacific Moran, Maya. Planning a Low December 29. Lavender Gardens. June 27. Northwest. December 38. Maintenance Garden. October 34. Breeding, From Plant Breeder to Lazy Gardener, Confessions of a Using Color Effectively. Feb 38. Oster, Maggie. Kingwood Home Gardener: Selecting the ... June 28. William Pac a House Garden, The. Orangery, The. October 29. Plants We Grow. April 38. Lilies in Name Only. June 15. October 20. 44 December 1981 GUEST EDITORIAL CONT'D AUTOMATIC VENTILATION Continued from page 2 market for such beauties as Daphne genkwa and D. odora, Arbutus unedo, Caragana aborescens and Cory lops is sinensis? Or such lovely American natives as Cyrilla racem THERMOFOR automatically controls hinged windows as heavy as 30 lb . to maintain the temperature required. It will lift a full 12 inches, or hold part way open iflora, Cladrastis lutea, Diervilla lonicera? as necessary. It is particularly aggravating to have to THERMOFOR lets you go away " order my Rodgersia, named for Commo without worrying about sudden weather -....::::~==~~;:::;~~~~~~~ dore John Rodgers of the United States changes. Plants in cold frame or Navy, from an English nursery. greenhouse do better with closer temperature control. Power failures Perhaps we the gardeners and designers don't affect THERMO FOR - it uses no are at fault for not providing a sufficient power, has no operating costs! demand for unusual plant materials. Some The SELECT model - best for time ago I arrived at a well-known Wash greenhouses because it takes only 2 ington, D. C. nursery just as a backhoe inches headroom. Readily fitted to started uprooting a field of beautiful eight Orlyt, Janco, National, Everlite, Texas, foot Styrax obassia. The owner sadly told Sturdi-built and other standard makes. me he could not afford the room for nurs Clamp-on attachments simplify installation on metal houses. ery stock no one appreciated. The question The SOVEREIGN model - best for then is which comes first? If the plants are cold frames because it's readily BRAMEN CO., INC. not in nurseries to see, who will know their disconnected and re-connected. The P.O.Box 70-AM,Salem, MA 01970 charms and buy? We can, of course, ask frame can be opened fully at any time. o Please send full information about for what we see abroad. Many plants from THERMOFOR controllers Ask for FREE PLANS to make your temperate areas of both Occident and o Please include FREE PLANS for own CAREFREE COLD FRAME. Grow making my own CAREFREE COLD Orient are suitable for plant zones here your own plants from seed! Get an early FRAME. and can be easily checked in Hortus III. start - and better quality - at lower Name' ______Another fine source of information are the cost! Ad&~ ______many American arboreta. Here you will find many of the glories of the plant world and willing advice on where to find them as well as horticultural tips. On the West Coast, where nurseries are filled with ex otics from far countries, you have an even Enjoy WATER-LILIES greater choice. An exciting pursuit also is to watch the In your own garden. nurseries and hedgerows for variations in color or form. Perhaps you will find just Lilypons catalogue the form you want for that accent plant features everything or discover just the color you need to com needed for your pliment your gray garden or the russet tones garden pool, to mute the colors of spring azaleas. including the pool. Meanwhile, try a little experimenting with what can be found -the American Yucca filamentosa alild the naturalized mullein Verbascum thapsus are easy to find and make splendid accents, as do Bergenia Lilypons Water Gardens cordifolia, 'Ligularia dentata and Macleaya r------cordata, now carried by our best nursery LILYPONS WATER GARDENS gardens. Please do buy those lovely plants WATER-LILIES 1512 AmhortRoad 1512 Lilypons Road or else they, like Styrax, might be plowed Lllypons. Maryland 21717 Brookshire. Texas 77423 under. Never forget friends with old gar Fiberglass garden pools, (301) 874-5133 (713) 934-8525 dens who have interesting plants now lost Lotus, aquatic plants, YES, Please send me the new colorful to tlle trade. It was through just such a Filters, pumps, lights Lilypons catalog. I enclose $2.00. Mif:higan friend that I became the proud PVC pool liners, sweeps Narne' ______owner of a valued Petasites." Statuary, books, koi (Please print) -A. St. Clair Wright Goldfish, scavengers Address ______City ______Mrs. Wright, who is a designer, is also Send $2.00 for catalogue. Chairman of the Board of Historic Annapolis, State ______Inc. and of the William Paca Garden, which Zlp ______was featured in our October, 1981 issue. '------_1_.- ______.. American Horticulturist 45 This Nursery Guarantees to Make You A Better Gardener The commitment in our headline is neither - A full-time staff horticulturist is available hubris nor public relations blather. It is true, and weekdays to answer questions by phone or these are the facts. mail. There is no charge for this service. He - Full-color spring and fall catalogues describe will also assist in locating unusual plants we over 1,200 items offered and provide proper don't offer. botanical names (with pronunciation), hardi - In Litchfield, we operate a nursery store plus ness ratings, detailed cultural instructions, 10 acres of display gardens and almost 40 and thousands of words of how-to-garden in acres of production blocks which are open to formation distilled from 31 years of nursery the public. Our retail staff are trained horticul experience. turists who can intelligently assist you in your - Plants are selected on the basis of extensive selections. trials, propagated and grown to stringent - We offer a garden design service for perennial standards, and finally graded, stored, and borders and our designer, the retired general shipped using traditional English techniques manager of the nursery, has more than 50 which are superb, though costly. Every plant years experience with perennials. we offer is guaranteed to be true to variety, of That is our complete sales pitch. Superb blooming size, and in prime condition for plants backed up with service to match. If you growing. Plants of this grade, fresh from the find it persuasive, the first step is a subscription grower, can't eliminate losses entirely, but do to our catalogues, known collectively as The reduce the risk substantially-a fact which is Garden Book. The fee is $5 which includes all of appreciated by experts but is actually most the above plus a $5 credit good on any purchase. beneficial to beginners. It is difficult to imagine a more rewarding - Every plant shipped is accompanied by plant purchase. ing instructions and a pre-printed garden Sincerely, label for your convenience. Amos Pettingill White flower farm Plantsmen Litchfield 7713, Connecticut 06759-0050