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Shrubs and Vines: Forsythia

Forsythia, Golden Bell. Forsythia is a very ornamental and free flowering shrub and its cheerful yellow flowers appear in early April. The flowers come before the leaves, and the foliage effect is good and remarkably free from pests. Propagation is easily accomplished by cuttings and seeds. The tips of the pendulous variety can be rooted when they touch the ground by pegging them down and covering them with earth. Forsythia is hardy and will thrive in most soils, but do not always flower profusely in soils that [197] are overly rich. Keep the bush well pruned removing all dead and old wood and tipping back the flowering shoots right after bloom.

Varieties. Suspensa, also known as Weeping Golden Bell, its pendulous branches are well adapted for drooping over banks and walls.

Viridissima. Upright habit of growth, Intermedia has a more erect habit of growth than suspensa and not quite so upright as Viridissima.

Helesia Tetraptera, Silver Bell. Attains a height of 15 feet and the graceful, white bell-shaped flowers appear in May. It is readily transplanted, hardy, long lived and a vigorous grower, a desirable shrub for specimen planting or in the shrubbery where height is desired.

Hardy Hydrangea. Hydrangeas grow best in a rich, moist soil and will thrive in partial shade or full sun provided they do not suffer from lack of moisture. Pruning is done in the late fall or early spring (March) and consists in cutting back last year's growth of branches to from 1 to 3 pairs of buds depending upon what size panicles of bloom are desired. The flowers are white and appear during midsummer, in the fall they change to a dull rose or reddish color, they can be cut and brought indoors for winter decoration. [198] Variety. Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora is the best hardy variety and grows to a height of about 6 feet.

Hibiscus Syriacus, Althea, or Rose of Sharon.

The Hibiscus blooms in August and September and grows to a height of from 6 to 10 feet, it requires very little pruning and is easily transplanted in spring. Any good, well-drained garden loam suits them and they do well in either sun or partial shade. Avoid planting the magenta type, varieties come in red, rose pink, violet and white.

Ilex Crenata, Japanese Holly. An attractive evergreen bush that rarely grows higher than about 6 feet. The foliage effect is splendid resembling that of boxwood, no flowers of ornamental value are produced. It is a slow grower, rather difficult to move, prefers a well-drained, rich soil and is useful in all kinds of ornamental gardening.