Camellia japonica ‘Ianthe’

A cultivar of Camellia japonica L. Camden Park bred, seedling 3/50.  ‘Apparently a very handsome shaped flower of very bright crimson colour and good substance.  Did not open properly, being gathered too soon.’  William Macarthur.  [MP A2948-6].  

Added on June 27 2009

Rhododendron indicum ‘Alba’

Probably a cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet but see History and Notes. ‘This Azalea is said to have been introduced from China, by Mr. Brookes, of the Nursery, Ball’s Pond, in 1819.  It is now commonly cultivated in our greenhouses, and is, I believe, generally considered to be a white-flowered variety if Azalea indica. […] But if the two plants be compared, many differences will be discovered which have led me to describe the present as a species.  The A. indica, for example, is a very free growing plant, arriving at a height of eight or ten feet, with long, twiggy, pendant shoots. […] A. ledifolia blossoms at the same season, with the indica, namely, at the latter end of the winter, and in early spring, and requires the same treatment.  It is not indeed a plant which boasts such vivid colours as the common Indian Azalea, but it is not less worthy of cultivation on account of the extreme delicacy and pure whiteness of the flowers, and their fragrant scent.’  [BM t.2901/1829].  

Added on June 04 2009

Crinum americanum L.

Deciduous, clump-forming perennial, spreading by stolons, with curved, slightly toothed leaves and umbels of up to 6 white flowers, with purple or brown backs, from spring to autumn.  To 50cm.  [RHSE, Hortus].  

Added on April 26 2009

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

Clematis heracleifolia DC.

This is a hardy, herbaceous, woody-based perennial of open habit with toothed, deeply 3-lobed leaves and scented, tubular, purple flowers, produced in whorled racemes in summer.  [RHSE, Hortus, Don].

Added on March 08 2009

Fuchsia Veitch’s ‘Dominiana’

A Fuchsia denticulata Ruiz & Pav. x Fuchsia macrostigma Benth. hybrid.  It has a long scarlet-red tube and sepals, the latter green-tipped, and an orange corolla, slightly flared when fully open.  To 1.5m.  [RHSD].

Added on August 14 2009

Sinningia speciosa ‘Maxima Variegata’

A cultivar of Sinningia speciosa (Lodd.) Hiern. See Sinningia speciosa ‘Maxima Discolor’ for detail.  I have found no specific description but probably a cultivar with flowers of several colours as illustrated here, or, much less likely, with variegated leaves.  See also   Sinningia speciosa 'Variegata'.     

Added on September 06 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 - 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

Colonial Australian Wines

The following article appeared in The Gardeners’ Chronicle of Saturday, November 25th, 1854. It includes a review of seven wines sent to the proprietors of The Gardeners’ Chronicle from Camden Park by William Macarthur, together with his notes on the wines, the vineyards in which they were produced and the economic conditions pertaining to wine production and sale in Australia. Macarthur’s brief notes, when read with the more detailed essay Some Account of the Vineyards at Camden, extends our knowledge of wine production at Camden but most importantly provides an external (but not necessarily unbiased) view of the quality of the wines.

Published Jun 30, 2011 - 02:12 PM | Last updated Jul 04, 2011 - 09:00 AM

Letters on the Culture of the Vine Part 9: Preparation of Wine

Letters on the Culture of the Vine and Manufacture of Wine by Maro, pen-name of William Macarthur. Letters XVI and XVII describe the manufacture of wine from secondary fermentation to bottling and storage. The illustration used here is Plate 3 from Letters, which illustrates some of the equipment used in the manufacture of wine, described here and in earlier parts.

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 Oct 03, 2010 - 10:34 AM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 11:13 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 - 01:56 PM | Last updated Jul 26, 2011 - 04:59 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