Ruellia macrophylla Vahl

Tender sub-shrub with pointed ovate leaves, wavy at the margins, and axillary panicles of bright scarlet flowers.  To 1.2m.  [RHSD].

Added on February 22 2010

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’].

Added on March 11 2009

Dahlia ‘Corialanus’

Probably Dray’s ‘Corialanus’.  ‘Light purple, moderately good formed [sic], but rather too flat.’  [FC p.12/1838].

Added on April 21 2009

Malus domestica ‘Maclean’s Favourite’

‘A variety of the highest excellence as a dessert fruit, it is of medium size, and roundish shape; skin, of a yellow color; and in use from October till January.’ [Hogg p.249/1851].

Added on April 16 2010

Camellia japonica ‘Isabel’

A cultivar of Camellia japonica L. Camden Park bred, seedling 32/51.  ‘Pure white, smallish size, perfectly double and regular to centre, petals well shaped, moderate substance, incurved, smaller buds of better form than old Double white.  Beautiful flower.’  William Macarthur.  [MP A2948-6].  

Added on June 28 2009

Fragaria vesca f. semperflorens ‘Red Alpine’

Low growing herb, the 3-lobed leaves forming a basal rosette, spreading by stolons, flowers white in 2-7 flowered scape. The edible fruits are a red berry, to 1cm long, the achenes (the seed-like fruits) evenly scattered over the surface. To 30cm. [RHSD, Hortus].

‘Fruit scarlet, conical; bearing strong through the summer and autumn.’ [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.482/1831].

Added on June 06 2010

Crinum bulbispermum (Burm.f.) Milne-Redh. & Shweick.

Bulbous perennial with slender pointed leaves and, in summer, umbels of 6-12 fragrant, white or pink flowers, flared at the tips and with a central dark red stripe.  Flowers rarely pure white.  To 60cm.  [RHSE, Hortus].  

Added on April 26 2009

Improvements to Hortus Camdenensis

The Hortus software has been upgraded. This led to some minor errors in the layout of plant names, particularly in the headings of Plant Profile pages but these have now been largely overcome. Improvements are also progressively being made to the content of the Hortus in three main areas, botanical and horticultural history, cross referencing and illustrations. Some enhancements will be done as the opportunity arises but most will be completed family by family. This will take at least two years to complete.

Published Sep 14, 2010 - 04:06 PM | Last updated Aug 12, 2012 - 04:36 PM

Sir William Macarthur on Vines and Vineyards

Sir William Macarthur wrote extensively on vines and Vineyards. It is our intention to publish all his writings in the Hortus.

Published Aug 01, 2010 - 04:58 PM | Last updated Oct 04, 2010 - 04:47 PM

Working Bee dates

Working Bee dates for 2012.

Published Jun 29, 2010 - 02:59 PM | Last updated Jan 10, 2012 - 05:19 PM

Open House and Gardens

Camden Park House and Gardens will be open to the public on Saturday 22nd September, 2012, from 12.00 noon until 4.00 pm, and Sunday 23rd from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.

Published Dec 30, 2009 - 02:58 PM | Last updated Jan 09, 2012 - 05:31 PM

The Family Amaryllidaceae at Camden Park

Amaryllidaceae was a very significant family of plants in the history of the Camden Park gardens.  The following Essay provides a little background to these important plants.

Published Jan 01, 2010 - 05:11 PM | Last updated Jul 30, 2010 - 02:54 PM

Australian native plants in the Hortus

Australian native plants were important to the gardening enterprises of Camden Park.  Even today Australian trees such as Araucaria species, Agathis robusta, Brachychiton populneum, Lagunaria pattersonia, Grevillea robusta and several species of palm very much define the landscape of the gardens.  Australian plants, particularly native orchids and ferns, were sent to England in large numbers in exchange for the exotic plants that were so much desired by Macarthur and his fellow colonists.

Published Mar 13, 2010 - 05:22 PM | Last updated Jul 30, 2010 - 02:32 PM

Memorandum from the Antipodes: Colouring of Grapes

The following Memorandum was submitted to The Gardeners’ Chronicle by William Macarthur in 1854. Although written in response to a particular problem aired in the columns of the newspaper some months earlier, it adds considerably to our understanding of commercial wine production at Camden Park, in particular the preferred grapes and the style of wine best suited to the colonial conditions. We are also given insights into the problems caused by ‘sudden abstraction of labour attending our gold crisis’, which caused considerable disruption of agrarian and other commercial activities in Australia for some years.

Published Jun 30, 2011 - 04:42 PM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 11:12 AM

A Few Words on Gesneraceous Plants

The family Gesnereaceae was an important contributor to the diversity of the colonial garden of Camden Park, with 97 plants described in the Hortus, mainly from the genera Achimenes and Sinningia. This short article provides a good overview of the history of Gesneriads as garden plants, and some very useful advice on their culture. Unfortunately I have lost the source reference, but the content suggests that it was written for an Australian colonial readership. The article is simply signed L.W.

Published Jun 26, 2010 - 03:01 PM | Last updated Jun 26, 2010 - 03:19 PM