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here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861.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

Rhododendron indicum ‘Jenkinsonii’

A cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet, this azalea is listed as good garden varieties by later editions of Paxton's Dictionary but without description. I have found no other description.

Rhododendron indicum ‘Macrantha’

‘Macrantha’, synonym ‘Macrantha Orange’, is a reddish-orange clone of Rhododendron indicum Sweet, with a low and compact habit. [Galle]. Paxton's Dictionary described macrantha rubra and macrantha superba as good garden varieties.

Rhododendron indicum ‘Macranthum’

Probably a form of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. I have no specific description but the name macranthus suggests that it had particularly large flowers.

Rhododendron indicum ‘Mirabilis Rosea’

An uncertain identification but probably a hybrid of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. Macarthur lists it amongst his Indica Azaleas.

Galle describes ‘Mirabilis, an old Ghent Hybrid, as existing in two forms, purplish yellow, probably mirabilis superba, and pink, probably mirabilis rosea. If this is the correct identification then it is likely that both forms were grown at Camden Park. Azaleas considered hardy in England included ‘Mirabilis’. [Gard. Chron. 1849]. Paxton's Dictionary includes mirabilis in its list of good garden varieties, but not mirabilis superba or rosea.

Rhododendron indicum ‘Obtusum’

A cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet which see. Dwarf, densely-branched, evergreen or semi-evergreen azalea with small, oval, glossy leaves and clusters of one to three, funnel-shaped flowers, to 2.5cm across, in shades of bright red, scarlet, crimson or white in spring. To 1m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers'].

Rhododendron indicum ‘Optima’

Probably a cultivar or hybrid of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. Galle lists two azaleas named ‘Optima’. The first is a late flowering amoena hybrid with large, deep pink flowers which may correspond the plant named Optima figured in Paxton's Magazine of Botany [MB p.55/1845]. The flowers are bright scarlet with deeper spots. English bred, its parents are unknown. This is similar to Azalea optima described in the Floricultural Cabinet: ‘Bright rosy-scarlet; flower large and showy. the plant six feet by four.’ [FC p.137/1848], and: ‘Fine orange, with darker blotch on upper segment; flower large, good form, and very showy.’ [FC p.148/1850]. This is probably Macarthur’s plant. Wilson & Rehder provide some information on the probable origins of this plant. ‘Azalea “Optima” with dark scarlet flowers [and] Azalea “Prince Albert” […] were undoubtedly derivatives of R. simsii and representatives of the “Indian Azaleas” of to-day, and the first introductions into America [in 1847] as far as I can discover.’ [Wilson & Rehder p.48].

Galle’s second azalea is an old Ghent Hybrid with yellowish-white flowers, edged reddish-orange, and with a yellow blotch. This is unlikely to be Macarthur’s plant.

Rhododendron indicum ‘Ovata’

Probably a cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. I have found no reference to this azalea and no description.

Rhododendron indicum ‘Purpurea Plena’

Probably a cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. Azalea indica purpurea plena is probably the plant noted by John Lindley in the Botanical Register as the double purple with lilac-purple flowers, seen at Brookes’ Nursery but not figured. [BR f.811/1824].

Rhododendron indicum ‘Purpurea’

Treated here as a cultivar or hybrid of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. Galle describes ‘Purpureum’ as a ‘Mucronatum’ hybrid synonym ‘Lilacina’, with light reddish-purple flowers with a red blotch, but see notes below as this may be a different plant.

Rhododendron indicum ‘Ramentacea’

Probably a cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. ‘Received from Mr. Fortune, May 8, 1846, and said to be from Hong Kong. This has something [of] the aspect of the common white Chinese Azalea, with smaller flowers, but it appears to be in reality a very distinct species. The leaves are often nearly round, and at the most are only oblong. The flowers have but five stamens; the sepals are very short, and bordered with long ramentaceous hairs at the edge, although they are naked on the back. There are no glands or setae on either calyx or flower-stalks. It is a dwarf evergreen shrub, requiring the same kind of treatment as other species of Chinese Azalea, and easily increased by cuttings in the usual way. It is very pretty and distinct, and deserves general cultivation.’ [JHS iv. 291/1849].

Rhododendron indicum ‘Refulgens’

Probably a cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. ‘[Azalea refulgens is] a showy orange-red; very pretty […] bright scarlet, with darker blotch and spots. Flower large, and plant four feet by four. It deserves to be in any collection.’ [FC p.138/1848]. Listed as a good garden variety by later editions of Paxton's Dictionary.

Rhododendron indicum ‘Robusta’

A cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. ‘A bright rosy-red; showy, and large flowers.’ [FC p.137/1848].

Rhododendron indicum ‘Semi-duplex Maculata’

An uncertain identification but probably a hybrid of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. According to an advertisement from Bainbridge & Hewison, Nurserymen, Seedsmen and Florists, York, it was a fine variety, double, rosy-pink, spotted, bred by Smith. [Gard. Chron. 1856]. ‘A pretty pink, with crimson spots. Very showy.’ [FC p.255/1848].

Rhododendron indicum ‘Smithii Coccinea’

A cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. ‘Bright orange-red, with a purple tinge on the upper segment; good form.’ [FC p.148/1850]. ‘One of the best red Azaleas for early work.’ [Gard. Chron. 1855]. Presumably one of the hybrids raised by Mr. Smith of Norbiton. [See also Rhododendron indicum ‘Danielsii’].

Rhododendron indicum ‘Smithii’

A cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. ‘This beautiful hybrid was raised a few years ago from seed produced by A. ledifolia (synonym A. phoenicea), impregnated with the pollen of Azalea indica by Mr. Smith, of Coombe Wood, Kingston.’ A stout shrub, the stems covered with brown hairs, its flowers are bright rose, spotted with bright red in the upper segments. [MB p.102/1834, and MB p.145/1835]. Galle. Azalea ledifolia is a form of Rhododendron indicum.

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