Plants in the Hortus
Many of the plants described here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861. A large number of additional plants were identified from correspondence, gardening notebooks and other documents surviving in the archives. The Hortus attempts to describe all the plants grown in the gardens at Camden Park and those grown in horticultural enterprises such as orchards and vineyards and includes plants grown outside the gardens in the park-like environs of the Camden Park estate. The Hortus plants served a wide range of purposes in the 19th century household; as ornament, living fences, fibre, dyestuffs, medicines, food and drink from the garden, orchard and vineyard and many others.
Fragaria chiloensis ‘Large White Chilean’
A cultivar of Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Mill. A low growing herb, the numerous 3-lobed leaves forming a basal rosette, spreading by stolons, flowers white, the edible fruits a rose-coloured berry, flesh white, the achenes (the seed-like fruits) evenly scattered over the surface. To 30cm. [RHSD, Hortus]. This is a white-fruited form.
‘Fruit large, irregularly ovate, sometimes roundish, having a tendency to form a neck, of a brownish colour towards the sun, the other side white. Seeds deeply embedded, with ridged intervals. Flesh soft, white, woolly, with a large core; flavour indifferent.’ [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.487/1831].
Fragaria vesca f. semperflorens ‘Red Alpine’
Low growing herb, the 3-lobed leaves forming a basal rosette, spreading by stolons, flowers white in 2-7 flowered scape. The edible fruits are a red berry, to 1cm long, the achenes (the seed-like fruits) evenly scattered over the surface. To 30cm. [RHSD, Hortus].
‘Fruit scarlet, conical; bearing strong through the summer and autumn.’ [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.482/1831].
Fragaria vesca f. semperflorens ‘White Alpine’
Low growing herb, the 3-lobed leaves forming a basal rosette, spreading by stolons, flowers white in 2-7 flowered scape. The edible fruits are usually a red berry, to 1cm long, the achenes (the seed-like fruits) evenly scattered over the surface. To 30cm. [RHSD, Hortus]. This is a white-fruited form.
‘Fruit white, conical; bearing through the summer and autumn.’ [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.482/1831].
Fragaria x ananassa ‘British Queen’
A cultivar of Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne. ‘Fruit large, sometimes very large, roundish, flattened, and cockscomb shaped, the smaller fruit ovate or conical. Skin pale red, colouring unequally, being frequently white or greenish-white at the apex. Flesh white, firm, juicy, and with a remarkably rich and exquisite flavour.’ [Hogg – Fruit Manual p.267/1860].
Fragaria x ananassa ‘Old Pine’
A cultivar of Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne. ‘Fruit large, slightly hairy, with a neck of an uniform bright scarlet, ovate-conical, occasionally compressed, and when luxuriant the early fruits are cockscomb-shaped. Seeds slightly embedded. Flesh pale scarlet, rich, and juicy, with a very grateful flavour.’ [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.486/1831].
Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne
A low-growing perennial herb, spreading by means of runners. The leaves have 3 leaflets, toothed, the white flowers are borne in small clusters and are followed by the edible red berry bearing small seed-like fruits on its surface. [RHSD, Hortus].
Fraxinus excelsior L.
Fully-hardy, vigorous, spreading, deciduous tree with conspicuous black buds in winter, pinnate leaves, to 30cm long, composed of 9, 11, or 13 leaflets, which turn yellow in autumn. To 30m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Fraxinus ornus L.
Fully-hardy, bushy-headed, rounded, deciduous tree with pinnate leaves, to 20cm long, composed of 5-9 leaflets, turning purple-red in autumn, and large terminal and axillary panicles of fragrant, creamy flowers in spring and summer. To 15m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Freesia laxa (Thunb.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning
Cormous perennial with two-ranked leaves and branched stems bearing small carmine-crimson flowers. Introduced in 1830. [RHSD, Hortus].
Freesia refracta (Jacq.) Klatt
Cormous perennial with a basal fan of leaves and racemes of scented greenish to dull purple flowers with yellow to orange markings on long, branched, arching stems in winter and spring. To 45cm. [RHSE, Hortus, CECB].
Freesia viridis (Ait.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning
A cormous perennial with many, narrowly sword-shaped leaves to 15cm and a zigzag stem, to 45cm, bearing many green flowers in summer. [RHSE, Grey].
Fritillaria imperialis L.
Bulbous perennial with whorls of lance-shaped leaves to 18cm long, and umbels of up to 8 pendant, bell-shaped, orange, yellow or red flowers topped with a cluster of leaf-like bracts. To 1.5m. There are many garden varieties. [RHSE, Hortus].
Fritillaria latifolia Willd.
Bulbous perennial with lance-shaped leaves, a stem to 30cm and usually single, bowl-shaped, pendant flowers, variable in colour but usually purplish with a darker chequered pattern. [RHSD].
Fuchsia ‘Atrosanguinea’
Fuchsia atrosanguinea has a dark carmine tube, long reflexed sepals and a crimson corolla. [CG p.245/1848]. Possibly a hybrid its origin is unknown.
