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here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861.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.
Carmichaelia teres unidentified
An unidentified species but probably a form of Carmichaelia australis R.Br. with rounded stems of circular section rather than flattened.
Carmichaelia tereta unidentified
An unidentified species but probably a form of Carmichaelia australis R.Br. with rounded stems of circular section rather than flattened.
Carpinus betulus L.
Medium sized to large deciduous tree with a grey, fluted trunk and ovate, serrate, ribbed leaves and fruiting catkins to 12cm long. Usually keeps its dead leaves through winter. To 20m but often grown as a hedge in a similar way to Beech. An excellent hedging species. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Carthamus campestris unidentified
Unidentified species. I have found no reference to a plant called Carthamus campestris.
Carya tomentosa Nutt.
Fully hardy tree with pinnate leaves with up to 9 oblong leaflets, nearly round, edible nuts. To 28m. [RHSE, Hortus].
Castanea sativa Mill.
Fully hardy, vigorous, broadly columnar tree with oblong, toothed, glossy, dark green leaves. It has edible fruit in autumn, with a number of cultivars grown particularly for their fruit. To 30m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Castanospermum australe Cunn. & Fraser
Frost-tender, open, spreading tree with lustrous dark green leaves, to 45cm long, composed of up to 17 elliptic leaflets, and racemes of yellow, orange or red flowers in spring and summer, followed by large pods containing chestnut-like black seeds. To 30m. [RHSE, Hortus].
Catalpa bignonioides Walt.
Fully hardy, spreading tree with ovate, heart-shaped leaves and white flowers, to 5cm across, marked with yellow and brown, in upright panicles in summer, followed by slender pods. To 15m. [RHSE, Hilliers’].
Catasetum macrocarpum Rich. ex Kunth
Epiphytic orchid with oblong pseudo-bulbs, to 20cm long, plicate leaves, to 45cm long, and variable flowers, usually green to yellow, spotted with brown or purple. [RHSD, Hortus].
Catasetum viridi-flavum Hook.
Epiphytic orchid with oblong pseudo-bulbs, to 12cm long, striate leaves, to 30cm long, and up to 12-flowered spikes of yellow-green flowers. [RHSD, Hortus].
Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don
Frost-tender, woody-based, fleshy, evergreen perennial, erect at first, then spreading, with oblong leaves, to 5cm long, and pink, red or white, salverform flowers, to 4cm across, produced from the upper leaf axils in spring and summer. To 60cm. [RHSE, Hortus]. See also Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don var. albus.
Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don var. albus
See Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don. Catharanthus roseus var. albus seems the most likely identification because Vinca alba was frequently described in the Victorian literature as a tender plant, along with Vinca rosea and another form, Vinca alba occulata, white with a red centre. The following is from a discussion of Stove Vincas, making it quite clear that tender plants are under discussion. ‘These old inhabitants of our stoves are neglected plants in many gardens, and in the majority entirely discarded. It is to be regretted that such good and useful plants are cast aside to make room for others of perhaps less beauty and use. Few plants are easier grown, or attain a good size quicker, if subjected to liberal treatment. All the stove varieties make capital plants for exhibition purposes, and look magnificent amongst a collection of flowering-plants, when well grown and neatly trained. They are even more striking in a collection of plants, especially V. alba and V. occulata, than many other plants grown for the purpose and exhibited. […] Vinca alba and its red-eyed variety V. occulata are the two most worthy of being grown. V. rosea is not so serviceable, and its flowers are not very brilliant in colour.’ [The Gardener vol.15, p.392/1881].
Cattleya forbsii Lindl.
Epiphytic orchid with two leathery leaves and a stem-like pseudo bulb, to 30cm, bearing 1-5 yellowish green flowers, to 10cm across. [RHSD, Hortus].
Cattleya skinneri Batem.
Frost-tender epiphytic orchid with cylindrical pseudobulbs, 1 or 2 oblong leaves, to 30cm long, and many rose-purple to bright purple flowers, to 10cm across, the lips often white or cream. To 30cm. [RHSE, Pridgeon, Hortus, Jennings].
Ceanothus divaricatus Nutt.
Frost hardy, evergreen shrub with smooth, pale bark, wide spreading, rigid branches, and clusters of pale blue or white flowers in spring or early summer. To 4m. [RHSD, Hortus].
