Evening star., 1947-09-28

need an abundance Of moisture, but
are not bog plants.
An attractive low-growing ever
green that is seldom seen in the
local gardens is the Leucothoe
(Leucothoe catesbaeo or Dog -Hobble
1t is ideal for facing up tall-growing
shrubs in the shady garden. In the
spring the dropping branches are
underlined with hanging sprays of
white bells. The spring flowers are
snowy but the bronze foliage is most
attractive during the fall ard win
ter.
Leucothoe Needs Shade.
Give the Leucothoe a shady situ-
alton and plenty of leaf mold for
good vigorous growth. The spread
ing branches will top-layer. That's
where 1t gets the nickname, Dog
Hobble." The young plants may be
transplanted to increase the plant
ing. II this is not desired they
should be removed to keep the
planting within bounds.
The so-called Swamp azalea
tRhododendron viscosum) Is not q
lover Of bogs, but will do very well
in any soil that Is well supplied
with leaf-mold. It is a compara-
lively low-growing fragrant white
azalea that Is one Of the last to
blossom in the spring. It's fragrance
is outstanding and every shady
garden should have one or more
clumps. Do not plant where mois-
ture is lacking in the summer and
fall.
or the sun-loving shrubs the
Beach plum Prunus marttima) is
probably receiving more attention
than any other at the present. How
ever, 1t seems better adapted to
sandy soils than to our heavy clays.
1t is a snowy low-growing shrub C.
to 8 fee0 with fruits which may be
made into delicious jellies and pre-
serves. Like many other natives, 1t
needs a soil supplied with moisture
holding humus. Cut the newly
purchased plants back rather Sc
verely before planting.
Hardhack Grows Upright.
The Hardhack (Spirea tomentosa)
is a late spring Towering spirea
that makes a good showing in the
shrub border. 1t is not a spreading
bush such as the Van Houttei, but
an upright grower with white spikes
Of fuzzy flowers. It tolerates drier
situation than any Of the above but
repays good culture.
Many gardens are very fond of
the strawberry bush Euonymous
ameericanus) because of its snowy
fall fruits which open up with a
bright orangy center. It Is of medi-
um height Ito feet) and will grow
in either sun or shade. 1t seems to
be immune to the anonymous scale
which is so bad on the anonymous
fortunei, an evergreen bush COM
monty planted by local gardeners.
The strawberry bush has good foil
age and is worthwhile shrub but
there are others which are more
desirable.
An attractive shrub that is seldom
found in cultivation, largely because
it is difficult to transplant, is the
Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus).
If moved when small it can be
handled with relatively little diff
ficulty. It needs sunny. fairly dry,
slope for compact, bushy growth.
The small two-foot shrubs are
usually covered with tiny white
flowers borne in dense clusters at
the end Of the branches. Heaviest
bloom is in the spring but some
flowers are produced during the
summer.
Blueberries Need Moisture.
There are number of other
choice shrubs for the garden, but
because of special requirements,
such as abundant moisture, they
are omitted from this list. The ink
berry Qlex glabra), a holly, needs
a shady moist situation. Winter
berry, another holly (Ilex verticil-
lata), desires shade and a fairly
moist situation.
The blueberries are fairly attrac-
tive shrubs, requiring shade, humus
and moisture. The true huckleberry
has similar requirements. Both of
these shrubs could be used to ad-
vantage in shady gardens. Their
fruits are delicious.
All of the above-named shrubs
are ready in this area, and have at
tractive foliage, flowers or fruits.
Most of them are readily obtained
from nurseries, which is a much
more satisfactory way to obtain
them than by collecting them, mas
much as those found growing wild
are very likely to have straggly root
systems which make transplanting
difficult.
The following types are consid-
cred suitable for this area:
l. Flame azalea (Rhododendron
calendulaceum).
2. Carolina rhododendron CR.
fcarolinianum).
3. Mountain laurel Kalmia latt-
folia).
4. Mountain andromeda (Pieris
fioriblInda)