Rosa banksiae R.Br. var. lutea

Rosa Banksiae lutea is a vigorous climber with long, smooth, thornless stems and small leaves composed of up to 7 leaflets, and numerous clusters of rosette-shaped double yellow flowers, to 2cm across, in spring and early summer.  To 10m or more.  [Paul (1848, 1863, 1888, 1903), Rivers (1854, 1857, 1863), Willmot, BR f.1105/1827].

Added on February 11 2010

Dianthus caryophyllus Sharpe’s ‘Duke of Wellington’

For generic information on the garden Carnation and Picotee see Dianthus caryophyllus L.  Sharpe’s ‘Duke of Wellington’ is a ‘heavy-edged red picotee; petals broad and well formed, white fine, and red very brilliant but not quite confined to the edge.’  [Gard. Chron. 1842].  ‘White pure, and very fully feathered; the guard leaves are rather too small, sometimes rather too much bowed.’  [Gard. Chron. 1843].  ‘Sharpe’s “Duke of Wellington” at present stands unrivalled among the heavy red-edged flowers, notwithstanding the smoothness of the petals and peculiarity of colour.’  [Gard. Chron. 1843].  ‘Heavy-edged, red picotee: pod large but rather short; petals broad and well formed and crowning finely; ground good and clear; edging well marked and regular.  [FC p.42/1849].  ‘Were it not for its pudding-shaped pod, which makes it very liable to burst, this would be the best heavy red out, as it is, if caught, a very pretty flower, round in its shape, good in its colour, and deserving a place in any collection.’  [BF p.219/1844].

Added on April 11 2009

Gladiolus cardinalis x (x gandavensis) [#3]

Gladiolus cardinalis x Gladiolus x gandavensis hybrid no.3 in Macarthur’s notebook no.5 in an entry dated 1847.  Robust scape, good sized flower, good shape [word indistinct] lower limb and larger, deep flesh colour or scarlet pink with [word indistinct] blotches on lower lobes.  Good variety.  [MP A2948-5].

Added on October 22 2009

Prunus domestica ‘St. Martin Quetsche’

A Prunus domestica L. cultivar. Fruit medium sized, ovate, or rather heart-shaped. Skin pale yellow, covered with white bloom. Flesh yellowish, sweet, and well-flavoured, separating from the stone. Shoots smooth. A very late plum. Ripe in the middle of October. [Hogg – Fruit Manual p.254/1860].

Added on May 27 2010

Citrus limon ‘Lisbon’

A cultivar of Citrus limon (L.) Burm.f. A spiny irregularly branched tree with oval-oblong leaves, sometimes narrowly winged, and fragrant white flowers followed by oval yellow fruits, acid to the taste. To 4m or more. [RHSD, Hortus]. 

Added on May 04 2010

Prunus avium ‘Archduke’

A cultivar of Prunus avium L. ‘Larger than May Duke, obtuse heart-shaped, with a deeply-marked suture at the apex, diminishing towards the stalk, and very slightly pitted at the apex. Skin thin, pale red at first, but becoming dark red, and ultimately almost black. Stalk very slender, an inch and a half to two inches long. Flesh deep red, very tender and juicy, sweet, and briskly flavoured; but sugary when highly ripened. Middle and end of July. Tree somewhat pendulous when old. [Hogg – Fruit Manual p.48/1860].

Added on April 22 2010

Pitcairnia altensteinii (Link, Klotzsch & Otto) Lem.

Frost tender herbaceous perennial with unarmed, lance-shaped leaves, to 60cm long and 2cm wide, and racemes of white flowers surrounded by bright red bracts on stems to 45cm long, in spring.  [RHSD].

Added on February 20 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

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

Camellias at Camden Park

Most of the camellias grown at Camden Park are cultivars of Camellia japonica L., the ‘Common camellia’, a native of China, Korea and Japan.  The first plant introduced to Britain in 1739, and figured in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine [BM t.42/1788], is close to the wild type.  It bears single red flowers in early spring but is rarely planted now and was not grown at Camden Park.  William Macarthur was an important breeder of camellias and many of the cultivars described in the Hortus were bred by him.  Unfortunately few of these have survived.  

Published Mar 13, 2010 - 02:43 PM | Last updated Jul 30, 2010 - 02:46 PM

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

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