Plants with industrial uses
Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spreng.
Frost tender tufted grass with erect stems and a much-branched, ornamental inflorescence. To 30cm. [RHSD, Hortus].
Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees
A deciduous, densely-tufted bamboo, the leaves lance-shaped, small in dry situations but up to 45cm long and 3cm broad under good conditions. To 17m. The young shoots are edible but it is extensively grown for its timber. [Several internet sources].
Edgeworthia chrysantha Lindl.
Frost hardy, open, rounded, deciduous shrub with supple shoots and lance-shaped leaves, to 15cm long, and spherical heads, to 5cm across, of small, fragrant yellow flowers, covered with silky white hairs, in late winter and spring. To 1.5m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Euonymus europaeus L.
Fully hardy, broadly conical, deciduous shrub or small tree, with spreading, somewhat pendant shoots, scalloped dark green leaves, to 7cm long, which turn red in autumn, and 4-lobed, clustered red fruit. To 3m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Ficus elastica Roxb.
Frost tender, evergreen, many-branched tree with oblong, leathery, glossy, dark green, often red-flushed, leaves to 45cm long. Oblong yellow figs are produced in pairs or clusters on mature trees. To 60m. [RHSE, Hortus]. It has been used as a source of natural rubber but the principal source is the Pará rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis).
Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw.
Frost tender succulent with lance-shaped leaves, to 2m long and tall spires, to 12m, of strongly scented white flowers in summer. The plant dies after flowering but produces numerous seeds which often germinate and produce sizeable plantlets on the scape. These readily root when they fall. The cultivar mediopicta (variegata) has creamy-white longitudinal lines on the leaves. [RHSE, Hortus].
Hedera helix L.
Fully hardy, vigorous, variable, self-clinging climber or trailing perennial with 3- to5-lobed, broadly triangular glossy leaves, to 6cm long. To 10m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Hibiscus cannabinus L. var. lindleyi
Half-hardy, erect, almost unbranched, fast-growing annual or short-lived perennial with palm-like, 3- to7-lobed leaves, to 15cm long, and single or few-flowered axillary racemes of funnel-shaped, pale yellow or purple-red flowers with crimson-red centres, from summer to autumn. To 3.5m. The variety Lindleyi has deep purple flowers. [RHSE, Hortus].
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’].
Iris germanica L.
Fully-hardy, rhizomatous bearded iris with fans of sometimes evergreen, grey-green leaves and sparsely branched stems bearing blue-violet flowers with yellow beards, in early spring. To 1.2m, usually smaller. Many varieties of Iris germanica exist, a number are included in the Camden Park catalogues. [RHSE, Hortus].
Iris germanica L. var. florentina (L.) Dykes
Fully-hardy, rhizomatous bearded iris with fans of sometimes evergreen, grey-green leaves and sparsely branched stems bearing strongly-scented white flowers, smaller than I. germanica, in early spring. To 1.2m. Paxton’s Dictionary describes a variety, minor, with grey flowers. [RHSE, Hortus].
Jubaea chilensis Baill.
Hardy, large palm with a distinctive columnar, grey trunk, which may be 2m or more in diameter and feathery, spreading fronds. It produces long spathes which split to reveal numerous small, whitish flowers follwed by distinctive orange fruits. Both the fruits and the kernels within resemble small coconuts. To 25m. [RHSD, Hortus, Jones – Palms].
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].
Morus alba L.
Fully hardy, spreading tree with heart-shaped, sometimes lobed, leaves, to 20cm long, and ovoid, insipid-tasting white fruit, to 2.5cm long, ripening to pink or red, in late summer. To 10m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Myrica cerifera L.
Hardy, glossy-leaved shrub or small tree with fragrant, narrow lance-shaped leaves, to 8cm long, the flowers catkins, followed by round fruit covered in blue-white wax. The wax has been made into fragrantly burning candles, hence the common names. To 12m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].
