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here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861.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.

Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) Blume var. grandiflora

Frost-tender, epiphytic orchid with semi-pendant, oval leaves, to 50cm long, and pendant racemes of numerous white flowers, to 10cm across, with yellow-margined lips and red throat markings, from autumn to spring. To 30cm. Grandiflora has larger flowers and the base of the labellum is stained with golden yellow. The leaves tend to be broader and paler than the type. [RHSE, Hortus, Pridgeon, Blombery, Jennings].

Philadelphus coronarius L.

Fully hardy, broadly upright deciduous shrub with ovate, shallowly-toothed leaves, to 10cm long, and short terminal racemes of up to 9 cup-shaped, very fragrant, single creamy white flowers, to 2.5cm across, in summer. To 3m. [RHSE, Hilliers’].

Philadelphus inodorus L.

Fully hardy, arching shrub with peeling bark on older branches, entire, elliptic leaves, to 9cm long, finely toothed, and cymes of white flowers in summer. To 3m. [RHSD, Hortus].

Philadelphus latifolius Schrad. ex DC. var. pubescens Dippel

Fully hardy deciduous shrub with ovate, entire or toothed leaves, to 8cm long, and racemes of scentless white flowers in summer. To 5m. [RHSD, Hortus].

Phillyrea latifolia L.

Fully-hardy, dense, rounded shrub or small tree with glossy, oval leaves, to 6cm long, and cymes, to 1cm across, of fragrant but inconspicuous greenish white flowers in spring and summer, followed by blue-black fruit. To 9m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].

Phillyrea media L.

I have found no direct reference to Olea oleafolia, but is is probably Phillyrea media L., synonym Phillyrea oleaefolia Mill., a plant similar to Phillyrea latifolia L. which see. Phillyrea media has smaller, bluntly toothed or entire leaves. Often considered a form of Phillyrea latifolia. [RHSD].

Philotheca buxifolia (Sm.) Paul G.Wilson

Frost tender, evergreen shrub with small, roundish leaves and solitary, pinkish, axillary flowers, to 2cm across, in early summer. To 60cm. [RHSD, FNSW, Beadle].

Phlogacanthus asperulus Wall.

Frost tender, erect shrub with quadrangular stems, large, opposite, elliptic leaves, toothed towards the apex, and a terminal flower spike bearing purplish-red, funnel-shaped flowers, curved and inflated near the top, in winter. To 1m. [RHSD].

Phlox 'Leantii'

Probably a phlox hybrid. The hand-writing is somewhat indistinct but it is included with the then recently introduced hybrids Van Houttii and Wheeleri. I have found no description.

Phlox ‘Van Houtii’

It was described in the Botanical Register as a garden hybrid, possibly a cross between P. carolina and P. sauveolens, ‘leaving on a white ground a crimson evidence of its paternity. The appearance of the plant is beautiful, far beyond anything yet seen in the genus Phlox; and we were almost going to say, beyond any thing among the hardy perennials in cultivation.’ It is a later flowerer, the plant figured having pinkish-purple flowers with white edges. the panicles were large and resembled a modern pernnial phlox. It grows to about 45cm. [BR f.5/1843].

Phlox drummondii Hook.

Half hardy, erect to spreading annual with purple, pink, red, lavender-blue or white flowers in late spring. The flowers often have a prominent, contrasting eye. To 45cm. [RHSE, Hortus].

Phlox paniculata L. var. grandis

Fully hardy, erect, herbaceous perennial with lance-shaped, toothed leaves, to 13cm long, and panicle-like cymes of salverform, fragrant flowers, to 2.5cm across, in shades of white, pink, lilac, orange or red, often with a contrasting eye, from summer to autumn. To 1.2m. The name grandis suggests a tall-growing or large-flowered form. I have found no specific reference to the variety. [RHSE, Hortus].

Phlox x leopoldiana Paxt.

Paxton’s Dictionary describes Phlox Leopoldiana as a rose-coloured hybrid, introduced in 1847. Its general colour is a bright rosy-crimson, the eye a rich deep crimson, and the throat white, making a striking contrast. [FC p.28/1848]. The RHS Dictionary describes the flower as deep rose with a white eye and classifies it as a grandiflora type, growing to about 45cm.

Phlox x wheeleriana Sweet

A hybrid phlox with deep pink flowers with a red centre. [Maund vol.5, no.395/1834].

Phoenix dactylifera L.

Frost tender tall palm with a columnar trunk, leaves to 6m long, composed of many linear leaflets, and long-stalked panicles, to 2m long, of bowl-shaped, cream flowers in spring and summer, followed by the characteristic, edible fruits. To 30m. [RHSE, Hortus].

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