Oenothera fruticosa L.

Fully hardy, erect perennial or biennial with branched, red-tinged, hairy stems, ovate to lance-shaped, toothed leaves, to 11cm long, and deep yellow saucer- to cup-shaped flowers opening during the day from late spring to late summer.  To 90cm.  [RHSE, Hortus].

Added on October 12 2009

Hibiscus cannabinus L. var. lindleyi

Half-hardy, erect, almost unbranched, fast-growing annual or short-lived perennial with palm-like, 3- to7-lobed leaves, to 15cm long, and single or few-flowered axillary racemes of funnel-shaped, pale yellow or purple-red flowers with crimson-red centres, from summer to autumn.  To 3.5m.  The variety Lindleyi has deep purple flowers.  [RHSE, Hortus].

Added on January 11 2010

Calceolaria ringens Hort.

Hybrid calceolarias.

Florist’s calceolaria: Florists’ calceolarias are hybrids of several, often indeterminate species.  ‘Bloom perfectly round; colour, back bright as front; lip, throat, and calyx, small; markings, if any, decided and dense; substance thick and stiff; stems strong and branching; footstalks elastic; plant decidedly shrubby, and the bloom just above the foliage.’  [FC p.10/1848].  ‘This is a favourite genus, and contains some very showy species, from which an almost countless number of handsome hybrids have been raised and are raising.’  [PD, 1849]. 

Added on January 26 2009

Rosa ‘Rose Delille’

A Provence rose.  ‘Rose Delille’ has middle-sized to large, full flowers, light red or deep vivid pink in colour.  [Gore].

Added on February 10 2010

Rhododendron indicum ‘Wooderii’

A cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet which see. The flowers of Azalea indica Wooderii are ‘violet, with crimson blotch and spots.  Very pretty, and well worth growing.’  [FC p.137/1848]. 

Added on January 16 2009

Rosa ‘De la Reine’

Hybrid Perpetual.  ‘La Reine’ has very large and globular, fragrant, glossy rose-pink flowers, tinged with lilac, and is a strong grower.  [Paul (1848, 1863, 1888), Rivers (1854, 1863), Henry Curtis p.1 vol.1/1850, Gard Chron. 1847, Amat].

Added on February 12 2010

Iris germanica L. var. nepalensis

Iris germanica var. nepalensis has stems 40-50cm long with dark reddish-purple flowers, with the falls much blacker in tone, and white-tipped, yellow beards.  In gardens it is often called ‘Purple King’.  [RHSD, BIS, Lynch].  

Added on November 04 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 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

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 - 12:18 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