Hedging Species
It seems probable that a good number of the plants introduced to Camden Park were considered possible candidates for living fences.
Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt.
Fully hardy suckering shrub with bright green, holly-like pinnate leaves, each with up to 9 ovate, spiny leaflets, sometimes turning red in autumn, and dense, terminal racemes of yellow flowers in spring followed by blue-black berries. To 1m. [RHSE, Hilliers’, Hortus].
Mahonia bealei Carr.
A large shrub with 5-9 pairs of leaflets and racemes, to 15cm long, of pale yellow flowers in winter. Has been sold as Mahonia japonica, which it somewhat resembles. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Mahonia fortunei (Lindl.) Fedde
Frost hardy, upright evergreen shrub with up to 13, slender, sharply-toothed leaflet per leaf, and dense, upright racemes of bright yellow flowers in autumn, followed by white-frosted, dark blue berries. To 1.2m. [RHSE, Hilliers’, Hortus].
Mahonia pinnata Fedde
Closely related to Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt., which see, although I have treated them separately here. Fully hardy evergreen shrub with prickly leaves and racemes of yellow flowers in late winter or spring. To 3m. [RHSD, Hilliers’, Hortus].
Olea europaea L.
Frost-hardy, slow-growing, evergreen tree, with opposite, leathery, elliptic leaves, to 8cm long, silvery beneath, and axillary panicles of tiny, fragrant, creamy white flowers in summer, followed by edible, ovoid green fruit, ripening to black. To 10m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Pittosporum tenuifolium Banks & Sol. ex Gaertn. var. nigricans
Frost hardy, bushy shrub to small tree with elliptic, wavy-margined leaves, to 6cm long, and small axillary clusters of honey-scented, bell-shaped, black-red flowers in spring and summer, followed by grey-black capsules. ‘Nigricans’ has black twigs. To 10m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Pittosporum tobira Dryand.
Half hardy, dense, rounded shrub or small tree with alternate, obovate leaves, to 10cm long, and large, terminal, umbel-like clusters of very scented, creamy white flowers, to 2.5cm across, in spring and summer, followed by yellow-brown capsules. To 10m. [RHSE, Hortus].
Prunus domestica ‘Damson’
Generally considered a Prunus domestica L. cultivar but see notes below. ‘Damson, Common Damson, Round Damson. Fruit very small, roundish-ovate. Skin deep dark purple or black, covered with thin bloom. Flesh greenish-yellow, juicy very acid, and rather austere till highly ripened, and separating from the stone. Shoots downy. A well-known preserving plum. Ripe in the end of September.’ [Hogg – Fruit Manual p.236/1860]. The Damson is often placed in a separate species, Prunus insititia L., or separated as a subspecies, insititia, of Prunus domestica L. Damson varieties were in the past usually raised from stones.
Prunus laurocerasus L.
Fully-hardy, dense, bushy, evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy, oblong leaves, to 15cm long, and upright racemes of fragrant white flowers, to 8mm across, in spring, followed by cherry-like red fruit, ripening to black. To 8m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Prunus lusitanica L.
Frost-hardy, dense, bushy, evergreen shrub or tree with red-stalked, glossy, elliptic leaves, to 12cm long, and slender racemes, to 25cm long, of fragrant, cup-shaped white flowers, to 1.5cm across, in spring, followed by cherry-like red fruit, ripening to black. To 20m. A useful hedging plant. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Pyracantha coccinea Roem.
Fully-hardy, dense, bushy shrub with lance-shaped leaves, to 4cm long, and corymbs of small, creamy white flowers in summer, followed by bright scarlet berries. To 4m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Quercus ilex L.
Frost-hardy, rounded evergreen tree with smooth, dark bark, lance-shaped, entire or toothed leaves, to 8cm long, and nearly round acorns. To 25m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Rhaphiolepis indica (L.) Lindl.
Half-hardy, bushy, spreading, evergreen shrub with glossy, deeply-toothed, lance-shaped leaves, to 11cm long, and loose racemes of white flowers, to 1.5cm across, in spring and summer. To 1.5m. Useful for hedging in frost-free areas. [RHSE, 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].
Rosmarinus officinalis L.
Hardy evergreen shrub with downy shoots and opposite, narrow, lance-shaped leaves, dark above and pale beneath. The pale violet flowers are borne in the leaf axils of the previous years growth. To 2m. [RHSD, Hortus].
