Evening star., 1954-10-03
For Ventureson,e Gardeners
Unusual. Trees and Shrubs
Dr. John l. creech Offers List Of PIunts
Different Here, But Adaptable
By Wilbur n. Younsmon
Iha sfur ourdsn Edlior

tONuSut0t ia14
den Editor
oEnmended by DR.. Creech a.
being well worth having. Like It's
fruiting counterpart, the fiower-
ing pear Is o medium-sized tree
and does well in full sun.
Mountain ComelIio and Styrox
A tree somewhat resembling
the Franklinia IL the Etewartia
(S. ovata). sometimes called
Mountain camellia. because 1t
grows only 10 to is feet In height
and the flowers are smaller than
those Of the Franklinia--u up to
8 inches In diameter. Like the
camellia It needs light shade
and q woodsy soil, It blooms in
July and August.
And finally. DR.. Creech mem
toned the Styrax Is. japonica)
q small to medium sized spring
Towering tree. The Styrax Is
also called the Japanese bell
flower tree because Of the my
riads Of small bell-shaped flowers
that hang in clusters. From be-
low it Is q most attractive size,
thus it is well to train the Styrax
into tree form so that 1t may be
admired to best advantage-look-
ing up into the fiower-laden
branches. The Styrax win thrive
in light shade Of full sun.
Dworf Shrubs and Toll Ones
Among the shrubs mentioned
by DR.. Creech is the dwarf form
OF Abelia. variety Edward Couch
er. Not only Is it lower growing
and more useful where less ramp
ant growers are needed, but the
flowers have q deeper tinge of
pink. This evergreen shrub is
well adapted to this area and
will thrive in full sun or light
shade. i.
The Summersweet, Clethra al
nifolia. Is another summer
bloomer that will have its place
in some gardens. Growing to 8
to 10 feet In height, it spreads
by underground rhizomes into q
sizeable width unless controlled
by removing the mwanted
shoots. It will thrive in moist
situations In full sun or light
shade. The terminal clusters Of
white bloom appear from July to
October and are fragrant. It is a
native. sometimes called white
alder.
Bark and Roots Tough
A seldom-seen shrub Is the
Cyrilla racemiflora, sometimes
called leatherwood because of
the toughness Of the bark and
roots. It Is an American shrub or
small tree Of considerable
charm. producing racemenes Of
creamy-white flowers in July.
The bright green leaves turn
orange and scarlet late In the
fall.
DR.. Creech mentioned TOO
little-known Deutzias, D. mag
iciens, with large mauve-pink
blossoms edged white. and pur-
plish underneath. The petals are
fringed, Other interesting Deut-
zias are longifolia. elegantissima,
and grandiflora. Like other
Deutzias these thrive best in a
well-drained soil that has been
improved through the addition
Of peatmoss or compost. These
are taller growing kinds than the
little Deutzia gracilis.
Peorlbush Is a Spring Showoff
The Pearlbush is another
spring bloomer that we might
give a try. They are quite snowy
in the spring, producing numer-
ous white blooms on q shapely
bush Of 5 to 8 feet in height.
Sometimes confused with spir-
cas-, the Pearlbush, Exochorda
racemosa, is not only different
but enough OF them have been
grown in the Washington area
to have established their de-
STABILITY.
OF the hollies, DR.. Creech
mentioned particularly tn e
Chinese holly, Hex cornuta, with
it's rich green foliage and bounti-
full crop of large berries. 1t is
truly a gem. but needs some
light shade and protection from
strong winter winds. Growing
10 to Is feet in height, 1t is
suitable for foundation plant
ing where large shrubs are
needed, or for winter color In
the shaded garden.
A second holly, q variety OF
Japanese holly. the Heller holly
Hex crenata helleri. which Is sc
slow growing that 1t may be
used as q woody evergreen edg-
ing plant for the azalea bed
This variety of the Japanese
holly attracted much attention
at the National Flower Show ir
1853. Much larger growing and
with very small leaves is the
variety, microphylla.
Three LiIocs to Try Out
Three nlacs are included ir
the list: the Cutleaf (Syringa
laciniata). the Littleleaf Is
microphylla). and the japanese
tree lilac Is. amurensis japon-
ica). Any or all Of these might
well be included as shrubs In
the background In the sunny
border. Lilacs usually require
protection from the oystershell
scale but that Is q minor matter
considering how much they are
enjoyed.
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