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here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861.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

A cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. ‘A bright rosy red, slightly spotted. A separate blossom, is five inches across. It is very showy.’ [FC p.138/1848]. A free-flowering, tall growing, rosy-purple, spotted variety. [FC p.166/1839]. In Paxton's Magazine of Botany, Azalea speciosissima is described as a seedling variety, ‘raised by Mr. Smith of Norbiton, who has sent it out with the forgoing title. Its flowers are of a greater size than those of any other kind we know, and the hue is a deep and splendid crimson, with numerous dark spots in the upper petals.’ [MB p.119/1843].

Rhododendron indicum ‘Splendens’

A cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet, ‘Splendens’ was described but not figured in Paxton's Magazine of Botany from a plant seen at Henderson’s Pine Apple Nursery: ‘Flowers like those of Azalea indica smithii, though of a deeper ground colour, with darker spots, and of a far greater size. Its habit, too, is thought to be dwarfer and denser, and its whole aspect is superior.’ [MB p.94/1841]. An orange-pink, spotted variety, bred by Smith. Advertisement from Bainbridge & Hewison, Nurserymen, Seedsmen and Florists, York. [Gard. Chron. 1856].

Rhododendron indicum ‘Triumphans’

Probably a cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. An Indian Azalea of this name was offered for sale in The Gardeners Chronicle by William Barnes of Camberwell in 1860. [Gard. Chron. 1860]. This was possibly Smith’s ‘Triumphans’, described as a ‘fine rose, upper part crimson and spotted, fine formed flower.’ Presumably raised by Mr. Smith of Norbiton, breeder of many fine azaleas. [FC p.166/1839].

Rhododendron indicum ‘Variegata’

A cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet. ‘This has white and red striped and spotted flowers and blooms irregularly the year round. In the nursery district round Osaka it is known as “Shiki-takane-satsuki.” In Blume’s time it was cultivated in Java, and according to Lindley it was introduced into England by Mr. M’Killigan in 1833, to Knight’s nursery in Chelsea, London.’ [Wilson & Rehder p.26].

Rhododendron indicum ‘Wooderii’

A cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet which see. The flowers of Azalea indica Wooderii are ‘violet, with crimson blotch and spots. Very pretty, and well worth growing.’ [FC p.137/1848].

Rhododendron indicum ‘Woodsii’

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 Sweet

Half-hardy evergreen or semi-evergreen azalea with small, lanceolate leaves, often turning crimson or purple in autumn and widely-funnel-shaped, red to scarlet flowers, but very variable. To 1.8m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’, Millais].

Rhododendron indicum Sweet var. coronata

Azalea coronata is ‘a vivid rose, with a violet tinge, slightly spotted. Very showy, and worth growing.’ [FC p.138/1848]. ‘Distinct and a free bloomer.’ [FC p.190/1857].

Rhododendron indicum Sweet var. danielsii

Azalea Danielsiana is a tender shrub with carmine flowers. [JD].

Rhododendron indicum Sweet var. danielssii amabilis

I have found no specific reference or description for this plant. It is possibly the Ghent [Gandavense] hybrid ‘Amabilis’, with pink and cream flowers with an orange flare. [RHSD]. However, this identification is unlikely as Azalea hybridae-belgicae amabilis is listed in the 1836 edition of the Loddiges’ Nursery catalogue, a copy of which is held at Camden Park. Macarthur is unlikely to have included this amabilis among his indica azaleas.

Rhododendron indicum Sweet var. eximia

Azaleas considered hardy in England included ‘Eximia’. [Gard. Chron. 1849]. Paxton’s Dictionary lists it as a good garden variety in later editions. I have found no more detailed description.

Rhododendron indicum Sweet var. grenvillia

Probably synonymous with Azalea Grenvillia, described as ‘bright red, with darker blotch and spots. Second-rate flower.’ [FC p.137/1848].

Rhododendron indicum Sweet var. incomparable

Azalea incomparabilis, probably synonymous with Incomparable, was described as ‘a rosy-pink. Flower large and showy. Second-rate.’ [FC p.138/1848].

Rhododendron indicum Sweet var. magnifica

Azalea magnifica, a hybrid bred by Messrs. Rollinson about 1857, is figured in the Illustration Horticole with large single white flowers, the upper petals shown with a brilliant orange centre, all shaded with crimson. [IH pl.209/1859]. The variety alba magnifica is figured in the Floricultural Cabinet: ‘This is an admirable pure white variety, of exquisite form, and the petals of thick substance.’ [FC p.69/1852]. Galle considers Rollinson’s ‘Magnifica’ to be a ‘Mucronatum’ cultivar. [See Rhododendron indicum Sweet var. alba].

Rhododendron indicum Sweet var. mirabilis superba

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.

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