Rhododendron viscosum Torr.

Deciduous azalea with hairy shoots, elliptic leaves, to 3cm long, often glaucous beneath, and trusses of up to 12 tubular or funnel-shaped fragrant white flowers suffused with pink, to 3cm long, appearing after the leaves in summer.  To 2.5m.  [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers'].  

Added on June 08 2009

Viburnum arboreum Britton

Tree with a straight trunk and spreading branches.  To 15m.  Confined to St Catherine, St James and Trelawny in woodland on limestone hills.  Listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. [www.iucnredlist.org].

Added on July 09 2009

Aeschynanthus pulchra G.Don

Frost-tender, epiphytic climber with thin, rooting branches, oval, toothed, dark green leaves and terminal corymbs of 6-8, hooded, bright red flowers with a yellow throat from summer to winter.  [RHSE, Hortus].

Added on August 28 2009

Rhododendron x gandavensis ‘Cuprea Grandiflora’

Galle records an old Ghent Hybrid, ‘Cuprea Grandiflora’, orange coloured, blotched with orange-yellow which may be this plant.  The 1836 edition of Loddiges’ Nursery catalogue lists Azalea hybridae-belgicae cuprea with six sub-varieties, alba, elegans, eximia, globosa, rubra and splendens.  This perhaps makes it more likely that Macarthur’s Azalea cuprea is a variety of this old Ghent hybrid.  Such plants are now collectively called Rhododendron [Azalea] x gandavensis Hort.

Added on June 09 2009

Juniperus virginiana L.

Fully-hardy, evergreen conical or columnar tree with spreading branches, peeling bark, pointed, wedge-shaped juvenile leaves, diamond-shaped, scale-like adult leaves, and ovoid, brownish fruit ripening in the first year.  To 30m.  There are numerous garden forms.  [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers'].

Added on August 03 2009

Punica granatum L.

Frost hardy, upright, sometimes spiny, shrub or small tree with opposite, narrowly-oblong leaves, to 8cm long, and clusters of up to 5 funnel-shaped, bright orange-red flowers in summer, followed by spherical yellow-brown, edible fruit, to 12cm across.  To 6m.  It will form a dense hedge under appropriate conditions.  [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers'].

Added on March 05 2010

Malus domestica ‘Devonshire Redstreak’

Fruit; medium size, roundish. Skin; deep, clear yellow, streaked with red on the shaded side, deeper red next the sun. Flesh; yellow, firm, crisp, and rather dry. [HP pl.XI/1878].

Added on April 16 2010

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

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

Edmund Blake - Gardener

Edmund Blake is important in the history of Camden Park gardens, where he was employed as a gardener from 1837 until probably at least 1867.  William Macarthur named three hybrid plants in his honour, Passiflora  ‘Blakei’, Gladiolus ‘Blakei’ and Erythrina ‘Blakei, testament to the high regard in which he was held.  Erythrina ‘Blakei’ has survived to this day. It is a magnificent shrub worthy of a place in any large garden.

Published Apr 03, 2010 - 03:35 PM | Last updated Aug 14, 2012 - 04:55 PM

Letters on the Culture of the Vine Part 5: Management and Replenishment of the Vineyard

Letters on the Culture of the Vine and Manufacture of Wine by Maro, pen-name of William Macarthur. Letters VII and VIII deal with the management of the vineyard after planting, the use of manures and the replenishment of an exhausted vineyard. The illustration used here is Macarthur’s Plate 2, a section of a vineyard. This is referred to in detail in Part 4, however it does illustrate the method of vine culture recommended and described here, the dwarf-standard method which at this time was practiced mostly in the north of France.

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 09, 2010 - 05:49 PM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 11:15 AM

The Family Amaryllidaceae at Camden Park

Amaryllidaceae was a very significant family of plants in the history of the Camden Park gardens.  The following Essay provides a little background to these important plants.

Published Jan 01, 2010 - 05:11 PM | Last updated Jul 30, 2010 - 02:54 PM