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here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861.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.
Gladiolus ‘Numa’
Probably a hybrid but of unknown parentage. Bred by William Herbert. John Bidwill described it in a letter to Edward Macarthur Bowman, dated 22nd November, 1844: ‘Several of Mr. Herbert’s [gladioli] flowered while I was at Camden, one called ‘Numa’ is a splendid pink flower with spots. It measured across without flattening the petals 4 inches by 3.’ [MP A4297 p.24].
Gladiolus ‘Pictus’
Camden Park hybrid. Gladiolus cardinalis x Gladiolus x gandavensis hybrid. Described in Macarthur’s notebook as hybrid no.14. ‘Slender scape with flowers of good size and shape, colour pink-red striped upon a pale yellow ground, turning afterwards to white, with fine [word indistinct] pencilling, deep carmine blotches upon the lower lobes.’ [MP A2948-5]. In notebook #4 Macarthur described this plant under the name ‘Picta’: ‘No.14. Picta. Rather slender scape, flowers [word indistinct] and form pink striped upon yellow ground (afterwards white) with fine and [word indistinct] larger pencilled deep carmine blotches on lower lobe. Very good [word indistinct].’ [MP A2948-4].
Gladiolus ‘Planti’
A hybrid, Gladiolus x colvilli var. x Gladiolus splendens. John Bidwill referred to it in a letter to Edward Bowman, 26th October, 1844: ‘The scarlet Gladiolus at Camden is Gladiolus Planti, a seedling from Colvilli/Colvilli by Splendens. It is I imagine a very poor specimen but the colours are good.’ [MP A4297 p.28].
Gladiolus ‘Priam’
Camden Park hybrid. Gladiolus cardinalis x Gladiolus x gandavensis hybrid. Described in William Macarthur’s note books, in an entry dated December 23rd, 1847, as G. Cardinale inflato-majori-Gandavensis no.2, i.e. a cross between Gladiolus cardinalis var. inflato-majori and G.x gandavensis. Gladiolus cardinalis var. inflato-majori is only mentioned in this series of hybrids. ‘Raised in March 1846, flowered first time early 1847. Now named ‘Priam’. Flowers about the size of Gandavensis and of nearly similar shape, of deep red shading crimson with dark crimson blotches upon the lower lobes, yellowish in the throat. Robust, scapes about 3 feet high, branching, producing numerous flowers. Very handsome.’ A prolific variety, by 1848 it had produced 7 large roots and between 120 and 140 offshoots. [MP A2948-5]. ‘Priam’ was described as ‘very handsome’ by Emily Macarthur in a letter to William.
Gladiolus ‘Prince of Orange’
Camden Park hybrid. Gladiolus tristis x Gladiolus x gandavensis hybrid. Described in William Macarthur’s note books, in an entry dated December 23rd, 1847, as G. tristis-gandavensis No.2, that is hybrid No.2 of a cross between Gladiolus tristis and G. gandavensis. ‘Large flowers, more expanded than Gandavensis, measuring 4 inches by 3 inches. Colour reddish orange [word indistinct but probably] covered on the lower lobes with yellow and dark brown and purple blotches. Robust and branching scapes 3 to 4 feet high with numerous flowers. Very fine variety.’ By 1848 this prolific hybrid had produced 10 large roots and between 180 and 200 offsets. [MP A2948-5]. It was referred to by Emily Macarthur in a letter to William.
Gladiolus ‘Prince of Orange’ [#2]
Camden Park hybrid. (Gladiolus cardinalis x G. tristis) x Gladiolus x gandavensis hybrid. One of these hybrids was also named ‘Prince of Orange. ‘No.9. Cardinali tristi Gandavensis (No.25). Tall robust scape large well shaped flowers, of fine orange and scarlet, with dark carmine feathered blotches on lower lobes. [word indistinct] good and like Prince of Orange.’ The name ‘Prince of Orange’ was also written in pencil in the margin. I am unsure of the relationship between this plant and the Gladiolus x ‘Prince of Orange’ of the catalogues.
Gladiolus ‘Prince of Wales’
Probably a hybrid but of unknown parentage. Described as a scarlet flowered, late blooming variety in the Floricultural Cabinet. [FC p.41/1850].
Gladiolus ‘Princess of Orange’
Possibly an imported hybrid although two Camden hybrids were called ‘Prince of Orange’. I have found no description but refer to Gladiolus ‘Prince of Orange’.
Gladiolus ‘Sanguineus’
Camden Park hybrid. (Gladiolus cardinalis x G. tristis) x Gladiolus x gandavensis hybrid. Hybrid No.13 of this cross. ‘Flowered first time December 1847. Flowers of moderate size and handsome shape, rather dark red, with large blood red spots on the lower lobes and yellowish throat. Promises to be robust. A good variety.’ By 1848 it had produced 2 large roots and 18 offshoots. Described in Macarthur’s notebook no.5 primarily in an entry dated December 23rd, 1847 [MP A2948-5].
Gladiolus ‘Victor’
Camden Park hybrid. (Gladiolus cardinalis x G. tristis) x Gladiolus x gandavensis hybrid. Hybrid No.17 of this cross. ‘Flowered first time in December 1847. Flowers large and well shaped, of pink lilac colour with large brilliant purple blotches on the lower lobes. Promising to be robust. Very handsome and new.’ By 1848 it had produced 2 large roots and 18 offshoots. Described in Macarthur’s notebook no.5 primarily in an entry dated December 23rd, 1847. [MP A2948-5].
Gladiolus (angustus x blandus) x ‘Aurora’
Three way hybrid, (Gladiolus angustus x Gladiolus carneus) x Gladiolus ‘Aurora’. ‘Aurora’ is presumably a named hybrid not elsewhere described. No description is extant.
Gladiolus (angustus x blandus) x alatus
Three way hybrid, (Gladiolus angustus x Gladiolus carneus) x Gladiolus alatus. No description is extant.
Gladiolus (angustus x blandus) x angustus
Three way hybrid, (Gladiolus angustus x Gladiolus carneus) x Gladiolus angustus. No description is extant.
Gladiolus (angustus x blandus) x communis
Three way hybrid, (Gladiolus angustus x Gladiolus carneus) x Gladiolus communis. No description is extant.
Gladiolus (blandus x cuspidatus) x ‘Aurora’
Three or four way hybrid, (Gladiolus carneus x Gladiolus cuspidatus) x Gladiolus ‘Aurora’. ‘Aurora’ is presumably a named hybrid not elsewhere described. No description is extant.
