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here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861.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.
Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Double Indian White’
A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. Ranunculus flowered chrysanthemum. This is probably the flower listed as White Indian in the Floricultural Cabinet. Ranunculus flowered. ‘Shorter than the preceding, with very late and similar, but white flowers.’ [FC p.73/1833]. It may be identical with the Superb White figured in the Botanical Register. ‘Since the two varieties were figured in the fourth plate of the first volume of the Botanical Register, some fresh importations have added others to the number already known of this ornamental species, amongst which is the one now represented, which came from China in 1817. The drawing was made from a plant that flowered in the autumn of 1818 in the nursery of Messrs. Colville, in the King's Road, Chelsea. “Although the colours into which the flowers of this species sport in China are many, yet it has so happened, that of the twelve varieties which are now established in this country, four are white: of these the plant represented in the annexed plate is by far the finest, the terminating flower of the corymb being frequently near four inches in diameter. The inflected direction of the florets sufficiently distinguishes this from the others. The tubular part of each floret enlarges towards the lip, which does not expand as in several others, but assumes a hollow shape in consequence of the contraction of its edges and apex.’ [BR f.455/1820].
Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Golden Yellow’
A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. Marigold flowered chrysanthemum. ‘A very tall, handsome, and free-flowering variety. The flowers are early, and of a high rich yellow colour, but bronzed and orange in the buds and on their outsides. This is one of the best to grow as a standard; and, if parted at the root and annually transplanted, succeeds very well as a herbaceous plant, especially if in a warm or sheltered situation, duly supported by a stick.’ [FC p.73/1833]. It is figured in the Botanical Register with double yellow, somewhat reflexed petals. [BR f.4/1815].
Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Light Purple Expanded’
A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. Ranunculus flowered chrysanthemum. ‘The present variety was imported for the Horticultural Society in 1820, by Captain Mayer, of the honourable E. I. Company’s ship Atlas. [BM t.2556/1825]. ‘Of middling size, and with flowers in the middle season, but nearly twice as large [as many in the group].’ [FC p.73/1833]. Figured in Curtis's Botanical Magazine [BM t.2256/1821] and very similar to the purple cultivar earlier figured. [BM t.327/1796].
Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Old White’
A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. Tassel flowered chrysanthemum. Listed in the catalogues as ‘Old white from China’. ‘The first white flowered variety known in our gardens. It is recorded in the Horticultural Transactions to have been raised from a sporting branch of [the Tasselled Purple], and, indeed resembles it in everything but colour. It is a very graceful and elegant plant, and in warm situations its flowers are often more or less tinged and dotted with purple or blush colour.’ The ‘Tasselled Purple’ is described as ‘a very beautiful and rather early-flowering plant, of almost the middle size. The flowers are very numerous, and gracefully drooping, and of middle size.’ [FC p.73/1833]. ‘Most of the [varieties] seem to be permanent; but some of them, we are told, are liable to change their colour from change of soil and situation; and the one here figured has certainly this tendency, and owes the rich colour of the inner petals to its having been planted in a warm situation, where it was exposed to a very burning sun; and may therefore be expected, under different circumstances, to return again to its original white.’ [BM t.2042/1819].
Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Old Yellow’
A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. Type of chrysanthemum not known. Possibly the ‘Sulphur Yellow’ listed in the Botanical Register [BR f.616/1823].
Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Pale Indian Yellow’
A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. Ranunculus flowered chrysanthemum. This is probably the flower listed as Yellow Indian in the Floricultural Cabinet. ‘Of short stature, with very late and double, but small flowers, and forms, with the next (White Indian), a distinct species.’ [FC p.73/1833].
Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Pale Pink’
A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. Ranunculus flowered chrysanthemum. ‘Raised in Mr. Colville’s nursery, being a sportive branch from the Rose. This and the 3 preceding [in the Ranunculus flowered group] doubtless sport mutually into each other (Rose or Pink, Buff or Copper), and are perpetuated by cuttings; but all are liable to sport again, from pale pink to deeper pink, and copper or light orange to bright yellow. Neat and regular plant.’ [FC p.73/1833].
Dendranthema x grandiflorum Pale Yellow’
A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. Ranunculus flowered chrysanthemum. This may be the plant listed as ‘Var. pale yellow’ in the catalogues. Synonyms ‘Small Pale Yellow’, ‘Small Windsor Yellow’, ‘Aiton’s Yellow’. ‘Of short stiff growth, and early flowering, and of little merit.’ [FC p.73/1833].
Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Parviflora’
A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. I have found no description of this cultivar. ‘Parviflora’ means having smaller flowers [Stearn].
Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Pink’
A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. Ranunculus-flowered chrysanthemum. Probably the plant listed as var. pink in the catalogues. ‘Also called the Lilac. Resembles the last [the Buff or Copper, which see] in all things but colour, and is now the most common kind in cultivation.’ [MB p.90/1834].
Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Quilled Pink’
A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. Incurving ranunculus flowered. ‘Of tall stature, and one of the very latest in blooming; but very handsome, and repaying by its beauty every care bestowed upon it by the gardener. It has been called the most beautiful of all; but with me it yields to the gold-bordered Red.’ [FC p.73/1833]. ‘Introduced by the Horticultural Society in August 1819, and flowered in the garden the following year. One of the latest importations from China, and in regard to the blossom, certainly one of the finest; but flowers produced late in the year and rather sparingly.’ [BR f.616/1822].
Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Quilled Salmon’
A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. Tassel flowered chrysanthemum. ‘This is late flowering, slender, and graceful plant, with large tassel-like, and half-expanded drooping quilled salmon-coloured flowers, and is very uncommon.’ [FC p.73/1833].
Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Quilled White’
A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. Tassel flowered chrysanthemum. ‘This rather slender variety is almost of the middle-size, and has the slenderest and most completely quilled flowers, and the earliest flowers, of the whole group, which hang in graceful drooping tassels, and form a strong contrast to [the Great Tassled white].’ [FC p.73/1833]. Possibly the plant figured in the Botanical Register. [BR f.4/1815].
Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Semi-double Quilled Orange’
A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. Half-double tassel flowered chrysanthemum. ‘A tallish plant, with but few large and almost single, and some nearly half-double flowers of a good size, but making a poor show.’ [FC p.73/1833].
Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Superb Clustered Yellow’
A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. Marigold flowered chrysanthemum. ‘One of the finest and tallest of the group, with clustered, neatly formed, pure yellow flowers, late in ageing.’ [FC p.73/1833].
