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here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861.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.
Hymenocallis rotata (Ker-Gawl.) Herb.
Bulbous perennial with up to 8 strap-like leaves, to 70cm long, and stems, to 60cm, bearing terminal umbels of usually 2-3, but up to 8 fragrant, white or yellowish flowers. [RHSD, Hortus, Baker Am.].
Hymenosporum flavum (Hook.) F. Muell.
Evergreen shrub or tree, to 8m., with fragrant, bright yellow flowers, to 2.5cm across. [RHSD, Hortus].
Hypericum calycinum L.
Fully hardy, dwarf, evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub, spreading by runners, with oblong leaves, to 10cm long, and cymes of 2 or 3, saucer-shaped, bright yellow flowers, to 10cm across, in summer and autumn. To 60cm. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Hypericum olympicum L.
Fully hardy deciduous shrub with erect stems, lance-shaped leaves, to 4cm long, and cymes of up to 5 star-shaped, deep yellow flowers, to 6cm across, in summer. To 25cm. [RHSE, Hortus].
Iberis lagascana DC.
I have found no description of Iberis lagascana. Information given here is for Iberis carnosa. The given synonyms suggest that Iberis lagascana is a closely related species or a sub-species.
Iberis sempervirens L. var. superba
Perennial sub-shrub with narrow blunt leaves and white flowers in elongated corymbs. To 30cm. [RHSD, Hortus]. The variety superba is shorter growing and useful for edging. [Hortus].
Iberis umbellata L.
Fully hardy, bushy, mound-forming annual with abundant, small, scented, white, lavender, purple, pink or crimson flowers in spring and summer. To 30cm. [RHSE, Hortus].
Ilex aquifolium L.
Frost hardy, usually erect, dense, pyramidal or oblong, evergreen shrub or tree, with glossy, dark green, leaves with spine-toothed or spiny margins, and long-lasting red, orange or yellow berries in autumn and winter. To 25m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Ilex aquifolium L. var. variegata
For a description of the species see Ilex aquifolium L. A large number of variegated garden varieties are available, with gold, silver or cream-coloured markings.
Ilex cornuta Lindl. & Paxt.
Fully hardy, dense, rounded, evergreen shrub with rectangular, glossy, dark green leaves, to 8cm long, with prominent spines, and white flowers, followed by long-lasting, large red berries, 1cm across, in autumn and winter. To 4m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Illicium anisatum L.
Frost hardy, conical evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy, lance-shaped leaves, to 12cm, and fragrant, star-shaped, yellow-green, later cream, flowers, to 2.5cm across, in spring. To 8m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Impatiens balsamina L.
Frost tender, sparsely-branched annual with cup-shaped, hooded, pink, red, purple or white flowers in summer and autumn. To 75cm. [RHSE, Hortus].
Indigofera coriacea Ait.
Frost-tender shrub with obovate leaves composed of 5 leaflets and dense heads of red or purple flowers. To 90cm. [Don].
Indigofera cytisoides L.
Frost-tender, erect shrub with pinnate leaves composed of 2-3 pairs of leaflets, and terminal racemes of rose-coloured flowers. To 1.5m. [Don].
Indigofera decora Lindl.
Frost-hardy, spreading deciduous shrub with arching branches, pinnate leaves, to 20cm long, composed of 7-13, narrow leaflets, and erect racemes, to 20cm long, of pea-like white flowers, suffused with crimson, to 2cm across, in summer. To 60cm. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
