The I variegated form of the Canary Island ivy, Hedera canariensis 'Gloire de Marengo' is a superb wall covering for a shady sheltered aspect and is, of course, effective at all seasons of the year, and particularly in the spring | when fresh growth is being produced. The large leaves are deep green f Overlaid with silvery grey and margined with white; it is the fastest | growing, but not the hardiest, of the variegated ivies. For high walls the climbing Hydrangea petiolaris is a frequent choice. It will, after it has been established for a few years, be most conspicuous at mid-summer when it displays its large corymbs of white, sterile florets. This self-supporting deciduous climber is also most decorative in winter with its I bright cinnamon-coloured peeling bark. Alternatively, the evergreen climb- j ing hydrangea, Pileostegia viburnoides, could be found a place here. This is I slower growing but equally self-supporting; its handsome, prominently veined leaves are up to 6in(i5cm) long, and its panicles of creamy-white flowers appear, rather later than those of H. petiolaris, in August and j September. Slower growing than H. petiolaris but very worthy of consideration are either of the two species of the small genus Schizophragma, which is closely allied with this hydrangea. Schizophragma integrifolium is the more magnificent of the two species (the other is S. hydrangeoides), having broadly ovate, slender-pointed leaves up to 7in(i8cm) long. The flower heads may be as much as a foot (30cm) across and are remarkable for the large, white, ovate, conspicuously veined bracts of up to 3! intern) in length which terminate each division of the inflorescence. This choice species was introduced around the turn of the century by the distinguished plant collector E.H.Wilson. Drimys winteri, the winter bark, adapts well to being grown against a tall, shaded wall. Its leaves also are very handsome, 5 to 9in(i3 to 23cm) long, evergreen, leathery and glaucous beneath; umbels of fragrant ivory-white flowers open in May. This distinguished shrub deserves to be more frequently planted. Another excellent evergreen wall shrub producing its bright yellow, laburnum-like flowers in early summer is the evergreen laburnum, Piptan-thus laburnifolius (syn. P. nepalensis). Its handsome, dark green, trifoliate leaves are glaucous beneath and may fall in severe winters. It is an excellent wall shrub worthy of wider planting. Alternatively, if another climber rather than a wall shrub is appropriate, the choice honeysuckle, Lonicera tragophylk is well worth wall space. This grows and flowers well in almost complete shade. Its bright golden-yellow scentless flowers are produced in June and July. Crossed with L. sempervirens, it has given us the hybrid L. x tellmanniana which is equally showy and desirable; its flowers are flushed red at the bud stage and open to yellow with a coppery tint. A fascinating and all too infrequently planted wall shrub is the evergreen ltea ilicifolia.