Читать книгу Trees and Shrubs for English Gardens - E. T. Cook - Страница 32

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The Sumachs (Rhus) furnish some of the most striking of autumn-colouring shrubs; the best of them, R. cotinoides, has been already described; other fine species are R. typhina, R. glabra (with the cut-leaved variety laciniata), and R. Toxicodendron, all of which turn red. The Venetian Sumach, R. Cotinus, becomes yellow. Berberis Thunbergi, which dies off a rich scarlet, is so beautiful in autumn that on some estates it has been planted in great quantity, not only for cover, but so that sportsmen may enjoy its colour during the shooting season. B. concinna is another charming autumn-coloured leaved shrub of dwarf growth. Gaultheria procumbens (Partridge Berry) is too valuable to pass unnoticed. In winter its leaves are stained with crimson. The leaves of Cotoneaster horizontalis turn from green to rich shades of chocolate or crimson. The shrub is of spreading growth. Its evergreen ally, B. Aquifolium, turns a glowing red or purple after the first frosts. The Ghent Azaleas almost always colour richly, either deep glowing crimson, bronzy red, or gold; and of other ericaceous plants the warm tints of Pieris mariana and the rich crimson of the Enkianthus should be mentioned. The taller American Vacciniums (corymbosum and its various forms) are always lovely. Our native Guelder Rose (Viburnum Opulus) becomes crimson in autumn, whilst the Common Hazel and Rhamnus Frangula often produce fine effects in yellow. The feathery foliage of Spiræa Thunbergi is singularly beautiful when it changes from its natural pale green to crimson; and S. prunifolia fl. pl. is perhaps more distinct than the species, and two other Japanese shrubs (both, unfortunately, very rare) are remarkable for their autumnal beauty. These are Disanthus cercidifolia, an ally of the Witch Hazels, lovely claret colour, and Viburnum alnifolium, crimson.

Other noteworthy shrubs are Fothergilla alnifolia, rich red; Euonymus alatus, crimson; Deutzia crenata, yellow; and Pyrus arbutifolia, red. The common Brambles of our woods should not be passed over without mention; they turn a rich glowing red, and for their autumnal beauty alone may be used as undergrowth in wilder parts of the garden and woodland.