Evening star., 1949-10-30


the species, but their color does
not always appeal to the gardener
and hence should be seen while in
flower before making decision.
The two species of magnolia de-
scFibed are grown either as large
shrubs or medium sized trees.
The sweet magnolia (M. virgini-
ana is an attractive. hardy tree
of considerable size. but does not
compare in usefulness with the
Southern magnolia (M. grandi-
f1ora) which is a hardy evergreen
in this area.
A small tree for the partial
shade is the sourwood (Oxyden-
drum arboreum), whose value lies
principally in the fine, glossy
foliage and the brilliant coloring
of the foliage in the fall. 1t does
have in July small white flowers
borne in loose panicles. The flow
erS hang on after drying and
some consider them to be orna-
mental in this stage. The sour
wood is a native and in the wild
does not always have a pleasing
form, although the brilliant fall
coloring makes it conspicuous.
Another Type of SNOWFALL.
The japanese SNOWFALL. most
gardeners will agree, is an excel
lent specimen shrub, although 1t
may also be used as hedge plant.
1t is not to be confused with the
old-time SNOWFALL (V. opulus var
roseum) shrub that was usually
badly infested with aphids. The
japanese SNOWFALL (Viburnum
tomentosum, var. plicatum) is
striking both as to foliage and
flowers and makes well-rounded
bush when grown as a specimen
shrub.
Occasionally the smoke tree
(Rhus coggygria formerly listed
as r. continus) is grown as a
large shrub specimen. The pc.
culiar color effect which gives 1t
its name is from the feathery
fllmy fruiting panicles. The
foliage, which somewhat re-
sembles that of the magnolia, is a
paler green.
The Franklinia tree (Gordonia
alatamaha) is seldom grown, al
though there are several examples
in the Washington area of this
splendid arge-fowering small tree
from 10 to 20 feet in height.
The large shining smooth green
leaves are attractive, but most
gardeners look forward to the
large Waxy-white flowers borne in
late summer-August until frost.
| Two Roses of Merit.
Only two roses merit any con-
sideration for specimen paintings
and inasmuch as they are i'm
mune to blackspot and not overly
bothered by the japanese beetle
deserve wider planting. Rosa
hugonis-Father Hugo's rose
makes well-rounded bush to 8
feet. 1t is covered in the early
spring with pale yellow flowers.
The foliage is of a light green
and is finely divided.
The second rose in this list is
Rosa primula, which should be
listed as r. ecae. 1t is a stout
growing bush bearing single fra
grant pale yellow flowers. usually
blooming before Hugonis. The
aromatic foliage and snowy bright
red hips as well as the thorny
dense bush we'll qualify r. primula
as specimen shrub.
| Many other shrubs and small
trees might be mentioned al
though most of them will be found
wanting in one or more features.
.The Stephandra. for example, is
an excellent shrub for foliage
effect but lacks in flowers or fruits.
The SteWartia is good summer
Towering shrub, but is difficult
to handle. The spireas are pop
ular and commonly employed as
specimens, but in most cases they
will be found lacking in foliage
effect and unless properly pruned
have tendency to become leggy
and woody. Only the Chinese
lilac can be considered for speci-
men use and it, too, lacks foliage
value.
In selecting shrub or tree for
individual planting-specimen use
in the lawn-consider the year.
round effect. not lust the floral