Gazania rigens (L.) Gaertn.

Herbaceous perennial with short branching stems, leaves entire or pinnatifid, to 12cm long, and large, showy flower heads, rays to 3cm long, orange with black eye. [RHSD, Hortus].

Added on September 16 2009

Passiflora alata C.Curtis

Frost-tender, robust climber with sparsely-branched, 4-winged stems, broadly ovate, often toothed leaves, to 15cm long, and nodding, fragrant, bowl-shaped, carmine-red flowers in spring and summer, with purple, red and white marked coronas, followed by ovoid yellow fruit, to 15cm long.  To 6m or more.  [RHSE, Hortus].

Added on February 18 2009

Sinningia speciosa ‘Candidissima’

A cultivar of Sinningia speciosa (Lodd.) Hiern. It is listed in the Appendix to the Gesneriad Register - Sinningia with a date of 1842.  I have found no description.  

Added on September 02 2009

Spiraea douglassii Hook.

Fully-hardy, vigorous, erect, thicket-forming, deciduous shrub with narrow, oblong leaves, to 10cm long, and dense terminal panicles, to 20cm long, of bowl-shaped, purple-pink flowers in summer.  To 2.5m.  [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].

Added on February 06 2010

Cytisus villosus Pourr.

Frost-tender, low, spineless shrub with soft spreading hairs, trifoliate leaves and yellow flowers, borne in groups of three from the leaf axils in spring.  To 1.2m.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Added on December 17 2009

Schinus polygama (Cav.) Cabrera var. longifolia Fenzl. ex Engl.

For a description of the species see Schinus polygama (Cav.) Cabrera.  ‘The species now figured [Duvaua longifolia] differs from D. dependens in its leaves not being at all serrated, and decidedly narrowed, not widened, to the base; and also in having very short corymbs of flowers. […] It is much hardier than any of the others, having stood against an exposed wall in the hard winter, 1837-8, when all the others were either killed to the ground or entirely destroyed.’  [BR f.59/1843].  

Added on March 13 2009

Rosa ‘Noisette Purpurea’

Probably a cultivar of Rosa noisettiana Redouté. For a basic description of the early Noisette roses see Rosa ‘Noisette Pulchella’. ‘Noisette Purpurea’ had red flowers.

Added on February 10 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

Camden Park Roses

Roses were very important to the Camden Park gardens, 297 are listed in the Hortus, substantially more than the next largest genus, Camellia with 140 plants.  This brief review summarises the major types of rose grown and discusses the change in profile of roses over the decades from 1843 to 1861. 

Published Feb 13, 2010 - 03:27 PM | Last updated Jun 27, 2010 - 11:02 AM

Florists’ flowers

Floristry, in the 17th, 18th and 19th century meaning of the word, the growing and improvement of flowering plants for the sake of their beauty alone, has a long history in China and Asia but is of relatively recent origin in Europe.  From quite humble beginnings, the small scale leisure activity of artisans and labourers, it attracted the attention of the owners of the great pleasure gardens and botanic gardens of Europe.  Specialised nurseries began to appear to service great and small gardens, providing a means of disseminating the beautiful new varieties which the nurseries were both breeding and obtaining from enthusiastic amateurs.

Published Mar 12, 2010 - 03:41 PM | Last updated Jun 27, 2010 - 05:30 PM

Letters on the Culture of the Vine Part 2: Climate and Soil

Letters on the Culture of the Vine and Manufacture of Wine by Maro, pen-name of William Macarthur. Letters I and II deal with climate, site and soil.

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 01, 2010 - 03:26 PM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 11:16 AM

Rambles in New Zealand - Part 1

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 - 08:45 AM | Last updated Feb 29, 2012 - 03:08 PM