Rhododendron lepidotum Wall.

A very variable, shrubby rhododendron with scaly leaves, to 4cm long, and saucer-shaped, scaly, pale yellow, pink or purple flowers in spring.  To 1.2m.  [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers', Millais].

Added on June 18 2009

Camellia japonica ‘Rosaline’

A cultivar of Camellia japonica L. Camden Park bred, seedling 60/52.  ‘Deep pink, very large, not very double, petals large and of thick substance, but not numerous enough, inclined to be striped.  Showy but too loose.’  William Macarthur.  [MP A2948-6].  

Added on July 01 2009

Pinus radiata D.Don subsp. insignis Schwer.

A large, hardy evergreen conifer with deeply fissured dark brown bark, a dense head of branches, the usually paired leaves densely crowded on the branchlets.  Cones to 15cm long.  To 30m.  An important source of commercial timber in Australia and naturalised in some cooler districts.  [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers', FNSW]. 

Added on January 24 2009

Ixia species tall white

Unidentified Ixia, no description.

Added on November 16 2009

Penstemon campanulatus Willd.

Frost hardy, upright, branching, semi-evergreen perennial with sharply toothed lance-shaped leaves, to 10cm long, and long spikes of bell-shaped, pink, dark purple or violet flowers, about 2.5cm long, in early summer.  To 60cm.  Pentstmon campanulatus is a parent of many garden hybrids.  [RHSE, Hortus].

Added on September 24 2009

Epiphyllum phyllanthus (L.) Haw.

Frost tender, semi-erect, bushy, semi-epiphytic cactus with cylindrical stems, 3-4-angled when old, stiff, leaf-like, scalloped branches with purple-shaded margins, and nocturnal, funnel-shaped, glistening white or pale yellow flowers, to 30cm long, with green- or red-tinged outer tepals and green tubes, in spring and summer.  To 2m.  [RHSE, Hortus].

Added on March 02 2010

Achillea sibirica Ledeb. subsp. mongolica (Fisch. ex Spreng.) Heimerl

Fully hardy herbaceous plant with pinnatifid leaves and large flower heads bearing corymbs of white flowers on long, sometimes branching stems.  To 90cm.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Added on February 01 2009

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 - 03:47 PM

Working Bee dates

Working Bee dates for 2012.

Published Jun 29, 2010 - 02:59 PM | Last updated Jan 10, 2012 - 04:19 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 - 01:58 PM | Last updated Jan 09, 2012 - 04:31 PM

Rambles in New Zealand - Part 2

Rambles in New Zealand is the only published work of John Carne Bidwill of any length and an important document in the early colonial history of that country.
It is included in the Hortus for a number of reasons but mainly because, together with his letters to The Gardeners’ Chronicle, it completes the known published works of Bidwill. His importance in the history of the Camden Park gardens and the lack of any substantive treatment of his life and achievements make it appropriate to include all his published work here.
Rambles is published here in four parts:
Part 1 – dedication, Preface, pages 1-29
Part 2 – pages 30-59
Part 3 – pages 60-89
Part 4 – pages 90 -93, List of Subscribers

Published Feb 29, 2012 - 11:18 AM | Last updated Mar 01, 2012 - 06:02 AM

Memorandum from the Antipodes: Colouring of Grapes

The following Memorandum was submitted to The Gardeners’ Chronicle by William Macarthur in 1854. Although written in response to a particular problem aired in the columns of the newspaper some months earlier, it adds considerably to our understanding of commercial wine production at Camden Park, in particular the preferred grapes and the style of wine best suited to the colonial conditions. We are also given insights into the problems caused by ‘sudden abstraction of labour attending our gold crisis’, which caused considerable disruption of agrarian and other commercial activities in Australia for some years.

Published Jun 30, 2011 - 04:42 PM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 11:12 AM

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

History of the Florists’ Gloxinia

In the 19th century the florists’ Gloxinia was a very popular plant with hundreds of varieties under propagation.  Out of fashion today, these beautiful and easily grown plants deserve to be revived.  William Macarthur would not have recognised the large, multi-coloured flowers that dominate the show bench today but the plants he grew, predominantly of the slipper, or wild type, were equally beautiful.

Published Mar 14, 2010 - 12:56 PM | Last updated Jul 26, 2011 - 04:59 PM