Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-04-03
SHRUBS FOR
ORNAMENT
SUGGESTIONS BY PROF. FISHER
OF EXPERIMENT STATION
At BOHEMIAN.

The following article on ornamen-
tai shrubs for Montana is contributed
by Prof. R. w. Fisher. of the exper-
iment station at BoZeman:
The kind of trees and shrubs to
plant upon the lawn or parkway is
subject that is occupying the minds
of many people in this state at the
present time. The high altitude, dry
air and soil. and comparatively short
growing season common in most parts
of this state precludes the growing
of many plants used for ornamental
purposes in states east and south OF
US.
Nevertheless we have list OF
plants producing ornamental effects
that are well adapted to our condl-
tiOns. and when properly cared for
will add much to the beauty and re-
finement of our homes. Some OF our
native shrubs are worthy OF being
planted upon the lawns, as they are
well adapted to our soil and climate
anc produce when properly cared for
a good effect. The native mock or
ange or Philadelphus is beautiful
plant, perfectly hardy and may be oD-
tanned from most any part OF western
Montana. Such plants as the native
chokecherry service berry, buffalo Der
ry, alders, willows, etc., are well SUIT
ed for planting as screens to hide I'M
slightly objects or to produce green
foliage where other plants more Or
namental in themselves cannot be
grown.
Some of the common ornamental
plants offered by nurserymen are not
hardy enough to stand our climatic
conditions, yet we have list OF trees
ard shrubs. which if planted and cared
for properly will thrive and produce
excellent results.
The following list includes some OF
the hardest and best plants testei
at the experiment station during the
past seven or eight years. These
plants have been selected not alone
for their hardness but also because
they are well suited to lawn plantlnS
having either beauty or form, tloWe
or foliage.
The barberrieS are very useful an
hardy class Of plants. They may b.
used to good purpose for grouping II
the shrubbery, planted along as spec
linen plants or even for the purpos
OF a low hedge. The greenlsh, We
low flowers are usually borne in clus
tiers. followed by red or purple bel
ries. which often stay on the Dus
until late in the winter producing
beautiful contrast. The varieties gi'
irg the best results at the experimer
station are Berberis Thunbergii, D(
In this variety the flowers are greer
ish in color, borne singly, and al
succeeded by scarlet berries whic
hang on the plant all winter, this wit
the bright green foliage which assume
brilliant red tints in the fall comDln
to make it an attractive plant through
out the year. Berberis VulSaris. l.,
common barberry. This plant may /
killed back the first year or two Of
later is very hardy. A good plant II
planting along the borders and bat
ground. Berberis vulgaris purpurt
purple leaf barberry. This variety
similar to the common barberry
the habit of growth and harlines
It's deep purple foliage, greenish ye
low flowers, followed by bright re
berries which hang on the plant d
winter make it desirable plant II
the lawn.
Caragana or Siberian Pea Tree.
al, ~ shrubs that have been lntr
Use so we'll as the plants of this typ
Two species have been tested at tn
station and have proven absolute
hardy under all conditions. The plan
are readily grown from seeds and W
produce in one season plants lar
enough to be planted into permane
position. These plants have beautii
foliage and yellow pea-like howe
which develop into small brown
pods producing an abundance of Sc.
Caragana arborescens. A large shr
from - to Is feet high and Garage
fIutescons, beautiful little shI
from 4 to 5 feet high. have been gre
I'M: in the station nurseries for sew
al years.
Crataegus or Hawthorne Thu
are several species of thorns growi
along the water courses in MOnta
These make very desirable ornamen