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here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861.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

Azalea indica Murrayana is ‘a clear rose, a fine form.’ [FC p.190/1857]. An advertisement from Bainbridge & Hewison, Nurserymen, Seedsmen and Florists, York, described its blooms as large, carmine. [Gard. Chron. 1856]. It was still being offered for sale in the pages of The Gardeners Chronicle in 1860.

Rhododendron indicum Sweet var. pulcherrimina

Probably Azalea pulcherrimina described as ‘a lilac purple, with reddish spots. A very distinct variety, and well deserving to be one of a collection.’ [FC p.138/1848].

Rhododendron indicum Sweet var. purpurea superba

Azalea purpurea superba is ‘a bright purple, with darker blotch and spots. The plant was five feet by four. It is a very distinct and fine variety.’ [FC p.137/1848]. ‘Violet and crimson, with darker blotch and spots. Very pretty.’ [FC p.256/1848].

Rhododendron indicum Sweet var. rosea superba

I have found no specific description of rosea superba but see Notes.

Rhododendron indicum Sweet var. spectabilis

Azalea spectabile is probably identical to Azalea indica spectabilis, described as ‘a pretty purple, but only a second rate flower.’ [FC p.138/1848].

Rhododendron javanicum Benn.

A neat shrub or small tree with oblong, dark green, laurel-like leaves and large, compact heads of fleshy, funnel-shaped, rich lemon-coloured to orange, flowers, darker in the centre, approaching to crimson, in winter. To 3m. [RHSD, Hortus, Millais].

Rhododendron lepidotum Wall.

A very variable, shrubby rhododendron with scaly leaves, to 4cm long, and saucer-shaped, scaly, pale yellow, pink or purple flowers in spring. To 1.2m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’, Millais].

Rhododendron luteum Sweet

Fully-hardy, medium-sized deciduous shrub with oblong leaves, to 10cm, which turn to rich shades of crimson, purple and orange in autumn. The strongly fragrant, yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers are born in a rounded truss in spring. To 3.5m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers', Millais].

Rhododendron maximum L.

A tall shrub or small tree with leaves to 10cm long, and compact trusses of slightly fragrant, funnel-shaped, light rose-purple or white flowers, spotted yellow-green inside , in early summer. To 3m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’, Millais].

Rhododendron molle Sieb. and Zucc.

‘A rich yellow, with the upper portion darker. Very pretty. Plant five feet by three.’ [FC p.136/1848].

Rhododendron mucronatum ‘Alba Maculata’

Possibly a cultivar of Rhododendron mucronatum (Blume) D.Don but may be naturally occurring. The type Rhododendron mucronatum is a spreading, semi-evergreen shrub with trusses of 2-3 single, widely funnel-shaped, fragrant, white, occasionally pink flowers. Alba maculata is white with pink markings. To 1.5m. [RHSE, Hilliers', Galle].

Rhododendron nudiflorum ‘Bicolor’

Treated here as a cultivar of Rhododendron nudiflorum Torr. but may be naturally occurring. Millais describes Azalea bicolor as similar to if not identical with Rhododendron nudiflorum Torr. It is a deciduous shrub from the South Eastern USA with oblong leaves, hairy beneath, and scented, funnel-shaped, generally with white or pink-flushed flowers, with a pink or reddish tube, in spring. To 3m. Bicolor has scarlet flowers. [Hilliers', PD, Millais].

Rhododendron nudiflorum ‘Coccinea Major’

Treated here as a cultivar of Rhododendron nudiflorum Torr. but may be naturally occurring. Millais describes Rhododendron nudiflorum, from eastern North America, as a deciduous shrub, to 3m, which produces clusters of 6 or more faintly scented, white to purple flowers. The leaves appear after the flowers. Coccinea major has scarlet flowers.

Rhododendron nudiflorum ‘Incarnata Maxima’

Treated here as a cultivar of Rhododendron nudiflorum Torr. but may be naturally occurring. Sweet describes the flowers of Azalea nudiflora incarnata as flesh coloured. [HB p.265/1826 quoted in Wilson and Rehder p.199].

Rhododendron nudiflorum ‘Rubicunda’

Treated here as a cultivar of Rhododendron nudiflorum Torr. but may be naturally occurring. Millais describes Rhododendron nudiflorum as a deciduous shrub, to 3m, which produces clusters of 6 or more faintly scented, white to purple flowers. The leaves appear after the flowers. Aiton describes the flowers of rutilans as deep red with small calyx. Dumont de Coursay says that the young branchlets and the leaves are pubescent, the calyx greenish brown and the winter buds pale yellow in autumn. [Quoted in Wilson and Rehder p.200]. See Rhododendron nudiflorum ‘Coccinea Major’ and Rhododendron nudiflorum ‘Bicolor’ for further details.

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