Callistemon Lanceolatus, Bottle Brush

Callistemon Lanceolatus, Bottle Brush, usually sold under the name Metrosideros floribunda, the latter probably being a different thing. An Australian shrub which will probably prove hardy over most of the state. It does finely at Gotha in the garden of Professor Nehrling but seems to fail here. It has handsome spikes of crimson stamens arranged on a stem after the manner of a bottle brush.

Calotropis

A genus of shrubs and small trees from the Oriental Tropics that is cultivated around the world. The group belongs to the Asclepiadaceae, the Butterfly-weed family, and the species have large leaves and attractive flowers. C. procera has white blossoms while those of C. gigantea are purple rose. They are cultivated at Miami.

Calycanthus Floridus And C. Glaucus

Calycanthus Floridus And C. Glaucus are natives of the southeastern states, the former possibly reaching to Florida. They have very fragrant, brownish or purplish flowers and are of easy culture.

Camellia

Too well known to need description. The varieties of C. japonica are most commonly cultivated and should be hardy throughout the state. They will no doubt do well in the upper half of the state, planted in sheltered, cool situations, but it is probable that they will not succeed in lower Florida.

Cassia

There are several shrubby species of Cassia of which C. alata does well here.

Catesbaea Spinosa

Catesbaea Spinosa is a thorny shrub with small, shiny leaves and astonishingly long, large, trumpet-shaped, yellow flowers which hang pendent from its branches. It is a native of the Bahamas and is probably tender. It is a most profuse bloomer and is highly decorative.

Centradenia

A genus consisting of four species of handsome flowering shrubs and herbs from Mexico. Not tried in lower Florida that I know of, but should be.

Cestrum

Fine shrubs, sometimes half climbing, from Mexico to Chile, all of which do well in the warmer parts of the state but are subject to root knot when young. C. parqui, diurnum and nocturnum have greenish flowers that are richly fragrant, the latter being the Night Blooming Jessamine. C. aurantiacum has yellow flowers and those of C. elegans are purple crimson.

Clerodendron Siphonanthus

Clerodendron Siphonanthus is a shrub from the East Indies which is becoming half naturalized around old dwellings in Florida, and is somewhat hardy. It has large terminal racemes of long-tubed, white flowers, followed by showy red and purple berries. C.fragrans has large cordate leaves and dense corymbs of single or double white flowers which are very fragrant. It spreads badly and is difficult to eradicate when it is once established. C. bungei has lilac flowers and with the last is quite hardy.

Codiaeum, Commonly Called Croton

Shrubs from the South Seas with magnificent glossy, variegated foliage, green, pink, red, white and various shades of yellow. They enjoy sunshine and moisture though they will do well in partial shade. The many varieties in cultivation are mostly from hybrids of two or three probable species with greatly diverse forms of leaves. They are quite tender and can only be grown successfully in the extreme lower part of the state, - even there they had better be sheltered from high winds and frost. They will grow in any ordinary pine land that is well fertilized. The names are in great confusion, no two dealers agreeing on them, so it is almost useless to attempt to give lists. A few of them which have light colors are inclined to burn in the sun but nearly all the varieties do well in frostless regions.

Cydonia Japonica, Japan Quince

Cydonia Japonica, Japan Quince, has rich scarlet flowers and is very ornamental. It is widely cultivated at the north and does well with McLaren at Fernandina. There are white, pink and salmon varieties.

Daphne

Several species of rather small, hardy shrubs with evergreen leaves and fragrant flowers. They do well in light, open, well-drained soils and would probably succeed in the upper half of the state.

Deutzia

Hardy shrubs with showy white or blush flowers that appear in spring or early summer. Some of them should do well in the northern part of the state and possibly farther south. Pleas says that D. crenata does best with him at Chipley but that D. gracilis nearly fails.

Durante Plumieri Or Repens

Durante Plumieri Or Repens is a rampant, straggling shrub which bears spikes of blue flowers like large forget-me-nots through most of the year. When in bloom there is always hovering over the flowers a swarm of gaudy butterflies as attractive as the blossoms themselves. It is a native of the American Tropics and would probably not be hardy north of the middle of the state. In some cases it bears handsome yellow berries.

Euphorbia

E. splendens, the Crown of Thorns, with its fleshy, thorny stems and deep red bracts is a favorite pot plant in the north. Here it blooms throughout the year and is hardier than some tropical plants. E. jacquiniflora. Scarlet Plume, is a small shrub with willowy branches and orange scarlet bracts in winter, a very tender plant.

E. Pulcherrima, Poinsettia

E. Pulcherrima, Poinsettia as it is commonly called, is one of the standard ornamentals of South Florida. Here it grows to be a great shrub twelve feet high and under favorable circumstances it becomes a small tree. From November, until as late as March, it bears its great crowns of gorgeous crimson bracts, often fourteen inches across and in the greatest profusion. The stems have a tendency to grow long and straggling and it is better through the summer to pinch out the buds from time to time thus causing them to branch, become stocky and produce more blooms. After the blossoming season is over they should be cut back severely and well fertilized, as the soil must be very rich for them to do their best. Muck worked in around the roots is excellent. These cuttings, taken off in March or April, will root readily if kept rather dry. They may be put in the ground nearly to their tops or into pots. There is a double and a white variety. If cut down by frost it comes up quickly.