olia Suttneri_),
which is only variegated in late summer and autumn.
Finally, there are those, like the Purple Hazel or Purple Beech, which
have leaves of one colour and remain almost of the same shade whilst
they are on the tree.
On the whole the plants that retain their colour till late summer and
autumn, or acquire it then, are most valuable, because very few trees
and shrubs are then in flower.
Variegated trees and shrubs must not be planted too plentifully, and
studiously avoid all spotty effects. Many a garden would be improved by
bringing the variegated shrubs it contains together so as to produce a
few broad masses of colour. Some of these shrubs, like Spath's Cornel,
or the Golden Elder, may, in large gardens especially, be planted alone
in large beds or groups. The large trees, like the Purple Beech, can
stand by themselves.
The following list contains about one hundred of the finest of
variegated trees and shrubs:--
TREES
Acer Negundo variegatum, creamy white.
,, Negundo aureum, golden entirely.
,, platanoides Schwedleri, soft red in spring.
,, Pseudo-platanus flavo-marginatum, the "Corstorphine" Sycamore, one
of the largest of variegated trees.
Alnus glutinosa aurea, wholly yellow.
Betula alba purpurea, wholly purple.
Castanea sativa aureo-marginata, the variegated Sweet Chestnut, perhaps
the best of all large trees, with parti-coloured leaves. The leaves
burn on some soils.
Catalpa bignonioides aurea, wholly golden, and most effective in summer
and autumn.
Fagus sylvatica purpurea. Of the Purple Beeches there are now numerous
forms, such as atropurpurea, cuprea, purpurea, pendula
(weeping), and "Swat Magret" (the darkest of all). Pyramidalis
purpurea is very beautiful.
,, sylvatica variegata, white.
,, sylvatica tricolor, various shades of red and purple; beautifully
coloured, but not vigorous.
,, sylvatica var. Zlatia, entirely pale golden green in spring, but
for a short time only.
,, sylvatica, Paul's gold-margined, is a pretty variegated tree.
Fraxinus americana aucubaefolia, richly mottled with yellow.
Ilex Aquifolium. The variegated Hollies, both silver and golden, are now
very numerous; among the best are argentea marginata, argentea pendula
(Perry's Silver Weeping), Golden Queen, Silver Queen, Handsworth
Silver, Golden King, flavescens, latifolia aureo-marginata,
Watereriana, aureo-medio picta, aureo
|