Iris germanica L. var. florentina (L.) Dykes

Fully-hardy, rhizomatous bearded iris with fans of sometimes evergreen, grey-green leaves and sparsely branched stems bearing strongly-scented white flowers, smaller than I. germanica, in early spring.  To 1.2m.  Paxton’s Dictionary describes a variety, minor, with grey flowers.  [RHSE, Hortus].

Added on October 31 2009

Dianthus caryophyllus Mathew’s ‘Ne Plus Ultra’

For generic information on the garden Carnation and Picotee see Dianthus caryophyllus L.  Mathew’s ‘Ne Plus Ultra’ is a red edged picotee.  Introduced in 1849.  

Added on April 11 2009

Gladiolus cardinalis x (x gandavensis) [#8]

Gladiolus cardinalis x Gladiolus x gandavensis hybrid no.8 in Macarthur’s notebook no.5 in an entry dated 1847.  Robust scape, middling flowers nearly same colour as No.5, but darker, with tinge of lake.  Crimson yellowish throat.  No spots..  Inferior to No.5.  [MP A2948-5].

Added on October 22 2009

Rosa ‘Duchess of Sutherland’

Hybrid Perpetual.  ‘Duchess of Sutherland’ has deep pink flowers, highly fragrant and with a red edge, although this is not obvious in the plant in my garden.  It was recommended as a pot rose.   [Paul (1848, 1863, 1888), Rivers (1854, 1857, 1863), Henry Curtis p.3 vol.1/1850, Gard. Chron. (1847, 1856)].

Added on February 12 2010

Begonia fischeri Schrank

Frost-tender, shrub-like perennial with a woody stem, small, smooth leaves, crimson beneath, and very small, bright pink flowers, usually in threes, in spring.  A number of cultivars are available.  To 90cm. [Krempin].  This is the plant referred to B. fischeri in Australia today. 

Added on January 16 2009

Pyrus communis ‘Doyenné Marbré’

Fruit; medium sized, oval, curved. Skin; pea green ripening to yellowish, thickly dotted, sometimes grey or green. Flesh; yellowish, tender, buttery, melting, slightly gritty at the core, sweet, rich and highly flavoured. Produces a vigorous tree and is an abundant bearer. An excellent late pear. Ripening December to March. [Herefordshire Pomona]. 

Added on May 20 2010

Gardenia augusta (L.) Merrill var. flore pleno major

See Gardenia augusta (L.) Merrill var. flore pleno for details.  Gardenia augusta is a very variable species, the variety major is very free flowering but with flowers smaller than florida flore pleno.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Added on February 08 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

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 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

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

Raising Tropaeolum tricolor from seed

If you have tried growing Tropaeolum tricolor from seed you have probably encountered difficulty and obtained a low germination rate.  This was certainly my experience before I took this advice.

Published Jan 01, 2010 - 03:33 PM | Last updated Jul 30, 2010 - 03:38 PM