Selected plants in the Hortus
Chiranthodendron pentadactylon Larreat.
Tender evergreen tree downy stems, 5- to7-lobed palmate leaves and solitary, axillary, reddish, downy flowers with very prominent 5-lobed stamens, somewhat resembling a hand. To 10m or more. [RHSD].
Added on April 01 2010
Dahlia ‘Rosea Elegans’
Among the prize takers at the great exhibition of dahlias held in Edinburgh in 1855, was ‘Rosea Elegans’. [Gard. Chron. 1855]. I have found no detailed description.
Added on April 21 2009
Camellia japonica ‘Vesta’
A cultivar of Camellia japonica L. Camden Park bred, seedling 17/50. ‘Scarlet crimson, very like Medea, but more scarlet.’ William Macarthur. [MP A2948-6].
Added on July 04 2009
Indigofera cytisoides L.
Frost-tender, erect shrub with pinnate leaves composed of 2-3 pairs of leaflets, and terminal racemes of rose-coloured flowers. To 1.5m. [Don].
Added on December 23 2009
Citrus sinensis ‘Chinese Oval’
Probably a Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cultivar. This is a tree with a rounded top, shiny, dark green, ovate-oblong leaves and fragrant white flowers followed by large orange edible fruits. To 10m. [RHSD, Hortus]. Citrus sinensis is believed to be a hybrid between the Pomelo, Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr., and the Tangerine, Citrus reticulata Blanco var. ‘Tangerine’. Macarthur’s ‘Chinese Oval Orange’ can be assumed to have had an oval-shaped fruit.
Added on May 04 2010
Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Colonel of the Blues’
For generic information on the garden carnation see Dianthus caryophyllus L. Probably Hogg’s ‘Colonel of the Blues’ is a purple flake carnation. ‘A little deficient in colour, but good form.’ [FC p.254/1842].
Added on April 08 2009
Vitis vinifera ‘Shiraz’
‘Bunches, long, loose, and shouldered. Berries, large, oval. Skin, thick, reddish purple, covered with blue bloom. Flesh, rather firm and juicy. Juice, pale red, sugary, and with a delicious aroma. Ripens in a cool vinery, and is as early as the Royal Muscadine.’ [Hogg – Fruit Manual p.406/1884].
Added on June 24 2010
News
Improvements to Hortus Camdenensis
The Hortus software has been upgraded. This led to some minor errors in the layout of plant names, particularly in the headings of Plant Profile pages but these have now been largely overcome. Improvements are also progressively being made to the content of the Hortus in three main areas, botanical and horticultural history, cross referencing and illustrations. Some enhancements will be done as the opportunity arises but most will be completed family by family. This will take at least two years to complete.
Published Sep 14, 2010 - 04:06 PM | Last updated Aug 12, 2012 - 04:36 PM
Sir William Macarthur on Vines and Vineyards
Sir William Macarthur wrote extensively on vines and Vineyards. It is our intention to publish all his writings in the Hortus.
Published Aug 01, 2010 - 04:58 PM | Last updated Oct 04, 2010 - 04:47 PM
Working Bee dates
Working Bee dates for 2012.
Published Jun 29, 2010 - 02:59 PM | Last updated Jan 10, 2012 - 05:19 PM
Open House and Gardens
Camden Park House and Gardens will be open to the public on Saturday 22nd September, 2012, from 12.00 noon until 4.00 pm, and Sunday 23rd from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.
Published Dec 30, 2009 - 02:58 PM | Last updated Jan 09, 2012 - 05:31 PM
Essays
Camden Park Roses
Roses were very important to the Camden Park gardens, 297 are listed in the Hortus, substantially more than the next largest genus, Camellia with 140 plants. This brief review summarises the major types of rose grown and discusses the change in profile of roses over the decades from 1843 to 1861.
Published Feb 13, 2010 - 03:27 PM | Last updated Jun 27, 2010 - 11:02 AM
A Few Words on Gesneraceous Plants
The family Gesnereaceae was an important contributor to the diversity of the colonial garden of Camden Park, with 97 plants described in the Hortus, mainly from the genera Achimenes and Sinningia. This short article provides a good overview of the history of Gesneriads as garden plants, and some very useful advice on their culture. Unfortunately I have lost the source reference, but the content suggests that it was written for an Australian colonial readership. The article is simply signed L.W.
Published Jun 26, 2010 - 03:01 PM | Last updated Jun 26, 2010 - 03:19 PM
Raising Tropaeolum tricolor from seed
If you have tried growing Tropaeolum tricolor from seed you have probably encountered difficulty and obtained a low germination rate. This was certainly my experience before I took this advice.
Published Jan 01, 2010 - 03:33 PM | Last updated Jul 30, 2010 - 03:38 PM
Letters on the Culture of the Vine Part 4: Forming the Vineyard and Planting Vines
Letters on the Culture of the Vine and Manufacture of Wine by Maro, pen-name of William Macarthur. Letters V and VI deal with the formation of the vineyard and planting the vines. The illustration used here is Macarthur’s Plate 1, a ground plan for a vineyard. This is probably based on his own third vineyard, commenced c.1830.
The entire book is reproduced in the Hortus in ten parts. For background information and Macarthur’s Introduction to the book see Part 1.
Published Sep 05, 2010 - 05:03 PM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 11:15 AM
About the Hortus
The Hortus attempts to correctly identify, describe, illustrate and provide a brief history of all the plants grown at Camden Park between c.1820 and 1861.
Plants in the Hortus
The Hortus plants served a wide range of purposes: ornament, living fences, fibre, dyestuffs, medicine, food from the garden and orchard, and many others.
Plant Families
Plants in the Hortus are grouped by Family, perhaps the most useful of the higher order classifications.
Essays
Essays enhance the Hortus by providing a level of detail about the gardens, people, and plants that would be inappropriate for an individual plant profile.
Hortus News
News provides an opportunity for people interested in the gardens to keep in touch with the work being done to maintain and reinvigorate the gardens and receive advance notice of events such as Open Garden days.
