Evening star., 1946-12-22


three other species of firethorn
growing in the District which are
not quite as reliably hardy as the
species mentioned. All like severe
pruning in early spring. 1t is needed
to keep them compact and SYM
metrical. This should encourage the
owner to use the clusters of berries
for indoor decoration. When plant
is trained to a framework against
the wall the effect is very snowy.
Beautyberry Likes Full Sun.
The beautyberry (Callicarpa pur-
purea) is likely to freeze back in
this area if in protected situation.
In more exposed situations it comes
through the winter with little or no
injury. However, this need not
trouble the gardener for it should
be pruned rather severely in the
spring. The purple berries in small
grapelike clusters along the stem
are very attractive and make it a
worthwhile addition to the shrub
border The berries usually persist
until spring. The beautyberry pre-
fers full sun although it will do well
in light shade.
The cotoneasters have smaller
less snowy berries than the fore
going, but they are all interesting
and worth having for their berries
They are ornamental and useful
shrubs at other seasons also. The
dwarf spreading cotoneaster &C.
horizontalis) is most commonly
planted in rock gardens, but there
are number of others; some with
red berries; others with black; and
one has orange colored fruits. They
do best in full sun in this area and
prefer a rich soil. Some gardeners
dislike them because the squirrels
enjoy the berries too we'll.
For the shady gardens, the Ma
honia or Oregon hollygrape issa use
full and attractive berried shrub.
The holly-like leaves oftentimes
confuse the inexperienced, but the
clusters of berries are distinctive
A few have tried the Leatherleaf.
hollygrape which has black berries,
but the blue-fruited Oregon holly
grape is more widely planted, al
though it is more likely to suffer
winterburn in sunny situations.
Coralberry Does Well Here.
The coralberry (Symphoricarpos
vulgaris) is another berried shrub
that does well in this area, too well
unless the spreading runners are
kept pruned. For bank or wide
border, however, they are most use
full, holding the soil, providing ber-
ries in abundance for show and for
the birds. The coralberry grows in
either sun or shade and is not parti-
cular about the soil. There is con-
siderable variation in color of the
berries, some being brighter than
others. The native coralberry is
more dwarf than that offered by
the nurseries.
A counterpart to the coralberry is
the Snowberry (Symphoricarpos
racemosus) which is of the same
family although probably only a
botanist could recognize the SINH
larity. The snowberry has scattered
clusters of large white berries,
whereas the coralberry has clusters
of berries along the branches-from
end to end. The snowberry makes
more of bush than the coralberry,
but they both do fairly we'll either
in full sun or in shade. Both are
we'll worth having in the winter
border.
Among the less commonly grown
berried shrubs are the Holly Osman-
thus tOsmanthus aquifolium).
blue fruited holly-like shrub that
closely resembles the oregon holly
grape, and like it requires consider
abel shade in this area.
Use Hardy Strain of Nandina.
The Nandina (Nandina domes-
tica) is grown locally but one should
take pains to select a hardy strain
for this area. The bright red clusters
of berries make a splendid showing
during the winter months. In the
south where the Nandina is widely
grown, their use as hedge is very
attractive. The Nandina does best
in partially shaded situation al
though there are excellent speci-
mems growing in full sun.
Among the trees the dogwood and
the Mountain Ash have the most
snowy fruits, although the birds
soon strip the dogwoods Of their
crop. The Mountain ash does not
take kindly to every situation but
when happy, as some are, they make
very pleasing show. They are not
large growing, hence are adapted to
medium sized yards.
The bittersweet is the most COM
monty grown berried vine. It's
orange colored berries are much
sought after at this season. Here
again the female bears the fruits
and so there must be a male nearby
for polarization. Like the coral
berry control is needed to keep the
vine from taking the garden. If
left uncontrolled the strong growing
vine will smother it's neighbors.
Since it spreads by root-suckers 1t
can not be neglected for long.
Other berried shrubs to be found
in local gardens include the Red
Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia), the
European Burningbush (Euonymus
latifolius), several of the viburnums,
and the Russian Olive (Elaeagnus).
There ore others with berries not
-,