Alonsoa bicolor Hort.

Identification uncertain, but probably a variety of one of the species grown at this time.  Paxton’s Dictionary lists five species, all from south America, all with scarlet flowers: acutifolia (1790), caulialata (1823), incisifolia [warscewiczii] (1795), linearis (1790), together with the hybrid intermedia.  The latter was figured in Loddiges’ Botanical Cabinet in 1828, but Macarthur is likely to have used this name rather than bicolor if this is the correct identification.

Added on February 01 2009

Hosta undulata (Otto & Dietr.) L.H.Bail.

Fully-hardy clump-forming perennial with twisted, deeply-channelled, lance-shaped leaves, marked with white or pale yellow, and funnel-shaped, mauve flowers in summer.  To 1m.  [RHSE, Hortus].  Regarded by some as a form of Hosta lancifolia Tratt. which see, but treated separately here.

Added on January 07 2010

Achimenes erecta ‘Eximia’

Probably a cultivar of Achimenes erecta (Lam.) H.P.Fuchs var. rosea, synonym Achimenes rosea Lindl. It is not listed in the Gesneriad Register-Achimenes and I have found no other reference to this plant.

Added on August 27 2009

Oxalis hirta L.

Variable, frost-hardy bulbous perennial with crowded, narrow leaflets and solitary, open funnel-shaped, white, red-pink or purple flowers with yellow throats in autumn and winter.  To 30cm.  [RHSE, Hortus].  

Added on January 28 2010

Fuchsia magellanica Lam. var. gracilis L.H.Bailey

Gracilis forms a floriferous shrub of slender habit with small scarlet and violet-purple flowers.  See also Fuchsia magellanica Lam. var. conica L.H.Bailey.  [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers', Don].

Added on January 31 2009

Camellia japonica ‘Triangularis’

A cultivar of Camellia japonica L. Originated By M. Floy, New York, USA.  ‘Single, very curious.’  [Hogg, Magazine of Horticulture, 4:155, 1838.  Quoted in the ICR].

Added on July 04 2009

Prunus persica ‘Royal’

A Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. cultivar. ‘Flowers small, pale red. Fruit large, 10 or 11 inches in circumference, of a roundish figure, rather inclining to oval. Suture deep, having the flesh swelled boldly and equally on both sides, with a slight depression on the summit, where there is usually a small, pointed nipple. Skin pale green or yellowish next the wall; but of a pale red, marbled and streaked with darker shades on the sunny side, cavity of the base rather small, flesh delicate, melting, of a greenish white, but red at the stone, from which it separates. Juice plentiful, and, in a warm season, highly flavoured. Ripe the end of September.’ [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.260/1831].

Added on June 03 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

The Fuchsias of Camden Park

The first fuchsia introduced to English gardens in 1788 was a variety of Fuchsia magellanica Lam.  This new plant soon attracted the attention of florists and, stimulated by the regular introduction of new species and varieties from South America, selection and hybridisation saw a rapidly increasing number of named varieties available through the nurseries.  The first record of a fuchsia at Camden Park is Fuchsia conica, which arrived on board the ‘Sovereign’ in February 1831.  By 1857 fifty-eight species, cultivars and hybrids had been recorded as growing in the gardens.

Published Mar 14, 2010 - 10:50 AM | Last updated Jun 24, 2011 - 02:45 PM

Letters on the Culture of the Vine. Part 1: Introduction

‘Letters’ is an important book in the history of wine production in Australia and this is, I believe, the first time that the full text has been made available outside the major libraries. The value of William Macarthur’s book compared with earlier Colonial publications is that it is written from the perspective of over twenty years of experience of growing grapes and making wine in New South Wales. He does include theory from the pens of European authorities but the bulk of the book is written from personal experience. He is in effect saying ‘this is what we have found to work here’.

‘Letters’ is reproduced in 10 parts, beginning with the Introduction, which provides information on the history of the book and gives a synopsis of early experiences of vine importation and wine production.

Published Aug 27, 2010 - 05:50 PM | Last updated Nov 24, 2011 - 02:57 PM

Rambles in New Zealand - part 3

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 - 02:11 PM | Last updated Mar 01, 2012 - 07:02 AM

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