Hedging Species
It seems probable that a good number of the plants introduced to Camden Park were considered possible candidates for living fences.
Euonymus japonicus Thunb.
Frost hardy, dense, bushy, evergreen shrub or small tree with toothed, obovate leaves, to 6cm long, and small white flowers followed by spherical, pink-tinged white fruits, which are not always produced. To 4m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Euonymus japonicus Thunb. var. variegatus
For more detail see Euonymus japonicus Thunb. ‘There are two varieties, one with silver striped, the other with gold striped leaves; but the latter is very subject to run back to the green-leaved, while the silver striped hardly ever changes.’ [BR f.6/1844]. Macarthur’s plant is presumably one of these.
Flacourtia species unidentified
Flacourtia sepiaria Roxb., the ‘Hedge flacoutia’ has been particularly recommended for fencing and hedging. Other species have also been used for hedging. [Don]. Macarthur’s plant could well be such a species.
Gleditsia japonica Miq.
Fully-hardy, formidably armed tree with flattened thorns to 8cm long, pinnate leaves, and fruits to 30cm long, often twisted at maturity. To 20m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Gleditsia sinensis Lam.
Fully-hardy medium-sized tree with branched spines, fern-like, pinnate leaves, and racemes of small, green-white flowers, followed by straight, flat but thick fruits, to 25cm long. To 12m. [RHSD, Hortus].
Gleditsia triacanthos L.
Spreading, deciduous tree with a spiny trunk and shoots, the spines branched and up to 15cm long. It has pinnate leaves, to 25cm long, composed of up to 24 leaflets, and pendant, sickle-shaped seed pods, to 45cm long, in summer and autumn. To 30m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Ilex aquifolium L.
Frost hardy, usually erect, dense, pyramidal or oblong, evergreen shrub or tree, with glossy, dark green, leaves with spine-toothed or spiny margins, and long-lasting red, orange or yellow berries in autumn and winter. To 25m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Ilex aquifolium L. var. variegata
For a description of the species see Ilex aquifolium L. A large number of variegated garden varieties are available, with gold, silver or cream-coloured markings.
Ilex cornuta Lindl. & Paxt.
Fully hardy, dense, rounded, evergreen shrub with rectangular, glossy, dark green leaves, to 8cm long, with prominent spines, and white flowers, followed by long-lasting, large red berries, 1cm across, in autumn and winter. To 4m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Justicia adhatoda L.
Frost tender, usually erect and sparsely branched, evergreen shrub, spreading with age, with elliptic leaves, to 20cm long, and terminal or axillary spikes of tubular-bell-shaped, 2-lipped white flowers, veined red-purple, to 3cm long, mainly in summer. To 3m. [RHSE].
Lavandula spica Cav.
Hardy sub-shrub with pale grey, downy leaves and terminal spikes of fragrant, tubular, pale grey-blue flowers. To 1.2m. [RHSD, Hortus].
Lavandula stoechas L.
Fully hardy, compact, bushy shrub with linear, grey-green leaves and dense spikes of fragrant, dark purple flowers, to 3cm long, topped with conspicuous purple bracts on short stalks, in spring and summer. To 60cm [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Ligustrum vulgare L.
Fully-hardy, bushy, deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub with lance-shaped leaves, to 6cm long, and panicles, to 5cm long, of white flowers in summer, followed by black fruit. To 3m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Lycium ferocissimum Miers
Tall shrub with rigid, spiny branches, obovate leaves, whitish flowers and orange-red berries. To 4m. [FNSW, Beadle].
Maclura pomifera (Raf.) Schneid. male and female
Fully hardy, rounded, deciduous tree, thorny when young, with ovate, pointed leaves, to 10cm long, turning yellow in autumn, and tiny yellow-green flowers, followed by large, wrinkled, yellow-green fruit, to 12cm across, on female trees. To 7m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
