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here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861.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 x alterclerense Lindl.
An English hybrid azalea with crimson flowers. [PD]. This is undoubtedly one of the old Highclere hybrids of which 25 are listed in the 1836 edition of Loddiges’ Nursery catalogue, a copy of which is held at Camden Park. Macarthur’s plant is likely to have been one of these. See other references to varieties of Rhododendron x alterclerense for further details.
Rhododendron x azaleoides Desf.
Probably a Rhododendron ponticum L. x Rhododendron nudiflorum Torr. hybrid. Hardy evergreen shrub of dense habit, the leaves glaucous beneath, to 8cm long and flowers in clusters of up to 20, whitish, tinged with pale purple. To 2.4m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Rhododendron x gandavense ‘Amoenissima’
A cultivar of Rhododendron x gandavense Rehder, ‘Amoenissima’, an old Ghent hybrid, probably very similar to Rhododendron obtusum Planch. var. amoenum Wils., a plant long cultivated in Japan, with magenta flowers, usually double. The Kurume hybrids are derived from this plant. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers', Millais]. Azalea amoenissima may be a ‘more beautiful’ (amoenissimum) azalea, similar to the ‘beautiful’ amoenum but this is by no means certain.
Rhododendron x gandavensis ‘Cuprea Grandiflora’
Galle records an old Ghent Hybrid, ‘Cuprea Grandiflora’, orange coloured, blotched with orange-yellow which may be this plant. The 1836 edition of Loddiges’ Nursery catalogue lists Azalea hybridae-belgicae cuprea with six sub-varieties, alba, elegans, eximia, globosa, rubra and splendens. This perhaps makes it more likely that Macarthur’s Azalea cuprea is a variety of this old Ghent hybrid. Such plants are now collectively called Rhododendron [Azalea] x gandavensis Hort.
Rhododendron x gandavensis ‘Gloria-mundi’
I have found no specific description of this azalea, but see below for a general description.
Rhododendron x gandavensis ‘Punicea’
This is likely to be one of the early Ghent hybrids, known collectively as Rhododendron x gandavensis Hort. See Rhododendron x gandavensis ‘Gloria-mundi’ for further details. I have found no specific description of puniceas. Azalea hybridae-belgicae punicea is listed in both the 1830 and 1836 Loddiges’ Nursery catalogues, copies of which are held at Camden Park [CPA].
Rhododendron x nobleanum Hort. ex Lindl.
Paxton’s Dictionary describes Nobleanum as a hybrid with deep red flowers, introduced in 1832. [PD].
Rhododendron x pulcherrimum Hort. ex Lindl.
Paxton’s Dictionary describes pulcherrimum as a hybrid with pale rose flowers Introduced in 1832. [PD].
Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Ait.) Harsk.
Tender, downy, evergreen shrub or small tree with opposite, oval leaves and axillary, solitary or 2-3 clustered rose-coloured flowers, to 3cm wide, followed by purple fruit. [RHSD, Hortus].
Rhodophiala advena (Ker-Gawl.) Traub
A bulbous perennial with linear leaves and umbels of 2-6 horizontal, open funnel-shaped, red, yellow or pink flowers in late summer. The variety pallidum is a pale yellow-flowered form. To 50cm. [RHSE, Hortus, Baker Am.].
Rhus coriaria L.
Hardy, deciduous, small to medium-sized shrub or small tree with pinnate leaves, with up to 21 toothed leaflets. and greenish-white female flowers in loose terminal panicles in summer followed by brownish-purple fruits. To 3m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Rhus lucida L.
Frost tender shrub or small tree with grey-brown bark, compound leaves with 3 leaflets and terminal or axillary clusters of ivory flowers followed by yellow fruits. To 4m or more. [RHSD].
Rhus typhina L.
Hardy, deciduous, dioecious, wide-spreading shrub or small tree, the young shoots covered in reddish-brown hairs, the leaves large, pinnate and turning yellow, orange, red or purple in autumn, with large, erect clusters of male flowers, the female flowers followed by hairy crimson fruit. To 6m or more. [RHSD, Hortus].
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