The Pyracantha (Cratcegus Pyracantha)

The Pyracantha (Cratcegus Pyracantha) and the much to be preferred variety Lelandi are well suited for doing battle with the impurities of a town atmosphere, as may be seen in several of the gardens of the East End of London. They like good rich fibrous loam in which to grow, and special care in breaking up the surrounding ground is amply repaid afterwards by increased vigour of growth. The plentifully produced and brightly tinted fruit renders this one of our most ornamental berried shrubs. It requires to be nailed to the wall and bears pruning well.

The Evergreen Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

The Evergreen Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is also suitable for planting in towns, but it will not succeed satisfactorily in the most smoky localities. For suburban districts it is peculiarly suited, and well established specimens may be seen in many parts of the great metropolis. A friable loam will suit its wants with respect to soil, and nailing to the wall is a necessity. For planting against fences, the Evergreen Honeysuckle is a decided acquisition.

Privets, particularly the Japanese, are often used for wall covering in towns, where they succeed admirably and soon cover a good width of surface. They flower well in such a position.

The Jasmines (Jasminum nudiflorum and J. officinale)

The Jasmines (Jasminum nudiflorum and J. officinale) are peculiarly suitable for planting in towns, either for wall covering or to tree stumps, roots, and rockeries. They are of great hardihood, vigour of growth, and beauty of flower, the production of the latter being greatly influenced by the protection of a wall. The first-mentioned has ternate leaves and usually solitary yellow flowers, while J. officinale has pinnate foliage and sweetly scented pure white flowers. When planting either, a good patch of ground should be well worked up and light rich loam substituted for that of inferior quality. They both require nailing to the wall.

Forsythia Viridissima

Forsythia Viridissima and F. Suspensa are excellent wall plants for the town garden. They are slender growing shrubs, with long trailing shoots and plentifully produced yellow or golden flowers. They may be made by careful management to cover a wide area of wall, and producing their flowers in early spring and before the leaves is a point in their favour for the purpose required. Loamy soil suits either, and they must be nailed to the wall.

Clematis Montana

Clematis Montana has survived in London as a wall plant for many years and is charming on account of the plentifully produced white flowers. For clambering over brickwork, rockwork, or tree stumps it is also valuable.

Polygonum Baldschuanicum

Polygonum Baldschuanicum, although more fitted for decorating a dead tree stem, has nevertheless been found valuable for planting against a town wall or building. It is a very desirable, fast-growing, and freely flowering shrub and should receive further attention.

Polygonum - A Good Town Shrub. To face page 124.

Garrya elliptica has proved itself a good wall shrub in several of our larger towns, and is desirable on account of the leaves, which greatly resemble those of the Evergreen Oak, and long tesselated catkins which render this shrub one of interest and beauty. It requires to be planted in rich loamy soil, and the shoots should be nailed to the wall or building.