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Olafhenny
04-13-2012, 10:29 PM
I am attaching a couple of pictures of a shrub, which grew last year from a birdie donated
seedling to a height of more than 5 feet in the most troubled spot in our yard. For most
of the year that area is in total shade and only gets some sunshine during summer after 5 PM.
At first I thought it was a hydrangea, but that was soon dismissed. Because I am
extremely grateful for anything, which volunteers to grow in this troubled spot, where even
cedars did not make it (because of the roof overhang they did not get enough rain from
October to April, when the automatic sprinkler system is usually turned off), I decided to let it
grow. The pattern of the bark is somewhat reminiscent of hazelnut shrubs, but the profusion
of flowers clearly points to something else.

I love this baby already, since it not only appears to thrive in this to most shrubs inhospitable
location, but is also preparing to burst out in a profusion of flowers But I do not have a name
for it and consequently have no idea, how to care for it.

So far I am planning to let it bloom and then prune it back to about half its height (-or less?)
to give it a denser, more bushy structure

I would be grateful for any advice concerning identity and treatment of this shrub.

Thank you,
Olaf



http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48453 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=48453&ppuser=7269)



http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48452 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=48452&ppuser=7269)



http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48451 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=48451&ppuser=7269)

RobG7aChattTN
04-14-2012, 07:39 AM
Looks like a blackberry to me. Does it have thorns on the parts that have adult foliage? Can you show a photo of the fully leafed out adult foliage?

Olafhenny
04-14-2012, 09:23 AM
No, Rob, no thorns. I am quite familiar with blackberries and this is definitely not one of them.
But thanks,
Olaf

falcor517
04-14-2012, 11:56 AM
Difficult to say without knowing the flower colour..

If yellow and spring flowering its a forsythia

If pink, weigella

Hope that helps?:waving:

H2O
04-14-2012, 11:59 AM
Kind of Ribes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribes) (ex: Blackcurrant, Ribes nigrum) ?

Maybe this will be easier with bigger leaves and a flower ;)

Seem fast growing to catch the sun! (Like Forsythia, but mine has flowers before leaves)

Is there Redcurrant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redcurrant) behind ?

falcor517
04-14-2012, 12:14 PM
Kind of Ribes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribes) (ex: Blackcurrant, Ribes nigrum) ?

Maybe this will be easier with bigger leaves and a flower ;)

Seem fast growing to catch the sun! (Like Forsythia, but mine has flowers before leaves)

Is there Redcurrant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redcurrant) behind ?

I agree..does look a bit like a currant. With no thorns, could be a flowering currant. ie. Ribes

Olafhenny
04-14-2012, 01:16 PM
Thanks to Rob, Falcor517 and H2O for your input. :)

It is clearly not forsythia and neither black or red current. I grew up with plenty of those in our
yard, so I know them, when I see them. Weigela is still an option, though the fact that W. likes "sun
to partial shade" and this one thrived in almost total shade as well as the bloom time of "late spring"
for W. speak against that. The shape of the leaves of W. is also quite similar to hydrangea, the
reason of my initial confusion.

I expect the blossoms to open up in a few days. That will tell us more.

Olafhenny
04-15-2012, 12:16 AM
Somehow I missed including this image, which I had taken at the same time and which is probably
the best identifier prior to the full bloom emerging. :(

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48464 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=48464&ppuser=7269)

H2O
04-15-2012, 05:27 AM
-Rogerstreesandshrubs (http://www.rogerstreesandshrubs.com/)
"This site is designed to help with tree and shrub identification. It features over 9,000 illustrations of trees from all over the world both hardy and tender: from Pines to Prunus, from Oaks to Eucalyptus, Magnolia, Acer and Hamamelis plus shrubs including Bamboo, Camellia, Ceanothus, Clematis, Echium, Fuchsia, Grevillea, Hibiscus, Passiflora, Rhododendron and Viburnum. Text and pictures are based on published and unpublished work of authors Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix."

This maybe could help (or be usefull to someone else.)

(This Link is added with others in signature :My sources of Info & Plants (not bananas) (http://www.bananas.org/f8/useful-sources-info-plants-3123.html#post190467))

Olafhenny
04-15-2012, 10:43 AM
Thanks, Jc, I had a quick look at it, but it appears, that it will only be a help, when leaves and blossoms
are out. Right now I only have the bark pattern, which is quite distinct, the fact, that the leaves are
at alternating positions and my memory from not very careful observations last summer to go by.

As I said in my previous post, we will know a lot more, when the flowers open.

For now be assured, that I appreciate your help and I will certainly consult Rogerstreesandshrubs, for
confirmation, when more identifiers become available.

Thanks again,
Olaf

Olafhenny
04-18-2012, 10:24 PM
I have now some pictures with open blossoms. They do not look like any weigela I have ever
met. But hopefully these new pics will ring a bell with somebody.

I sure would like to learn more about a plant, which established itself in almost total shade
one spring as a seedling, grew to more than 5 feet in height during summer and fall and is now
just 12 months later breaking out in a profusion of flowers. Most of all I would like to know
the hardiness and how to propagate them, because I could sure use more of these shade
thriving beauties

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48501 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=48501&ppuser=7269)



http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48500 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=48500&ppuser=7269)

And look at the beautiful colouration of the bark!



http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48499 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=48499&ppuser=7269)





http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48498 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=48498&ppuser=7269)

It does not show the shape of the flowers very well, but I had to try a ‘shot in the dark’ even though
there was a light rain at the time

sunfish
04-18-2012, 10:37 PM
My guess

Flowering Crabapple Trees (http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07424.html)

Olafhenny
04-19-2012, 12:12 AM
Hi Tony,

Crab apples appear to be an excellent guess. Some of the pictures on this site show pictures
with identical shapes of blossoms, petals, and stamen: crab apples - Google Search (http://tinyurl.com/6savl3n)

But the original environment of crab apples is in high UV mountains and they are recommended for
“sun or light shade”. This thing established itself in the darkest corner of my yard, on the north
side of the house under an overhanging roof and is thriving there??? It only gets a sliver of
sunlight after six from now to August.

Also I have so far not seen an image of crab apples, which shows colourful bark like my shrub,
but since there is a myriad of varieties of crab apples out there, that does not mean a whole lot.

This is just a quick of-the-cuff reply to you. I will certainly dig deeper into your crab apple guess.

Thank you for it,
Olaf

Yug
04-19-2012, 05:01 AM
Somehow I missed including this image, which I had taken at the same time and which is probably
the best identifier prior to the full bloom emerging. :(

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48464 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=48464&ppuser=7269)





Those bumps look just like a massive scale infestation.

H2O
04-19-2012, 05:21 AM
Hi,

i think i found a verrrrry look like pic:

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/5622/wisienka2rz9.jpg

this is a Prunus tomentosa (Nanking Cherry) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_tomentosa)

click here for more pics. (http://www.dzialkowcy.info/phpBB2/printview.php?t=4892&start=0&sid=331c500858d675fc46365ffc7d84dfc6) (sorry not in english!)

If this is right, let me know!

H2O
04-19-2012, 08:52 AM
Your shrub:

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48498


Prunus tomentosa:
https://8102336093996476535-a-1802744773732722657-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/picthoster/essai/glowimagesXL_LGA7623.jpg?attachauth=ANoY7cqz_t79f8yuPSHixnLMlb7G vxjccV3BEbELjFEa3MfSyg4M5kiXkXItgdY52lIGnXkM-jIOzslzmnQZ4_MEvmJzz_QCHXqtiCigfrxfSvhORCgXJGUoOUoUPPp-szIdfk8HKcRztDwnssFb0ADIMdXI2bcwwtJntJe8c1lEqDlooOq9MGov_vtJk6jU 012cCPO4xhS26bbZZpAzTNQNIFaUkkjPqkai9KsxYx_N0Lu2D0YEfLA%3D&attredirects=0

Olafhenny
04-19-2012, 10:38 AM
Thank you, Jc, This is it! Not only are the leaves exactly like I remember them from last summer, but
the branch structure and the bark pattern and colouration match perfectly.

To heighten the pleasure. it looks like I may not only have a plant, which is viable in my trouble spot
with a short period of attractive flowers, but can also look forward to a display of beautiful red fruit. :)

- Providing it is not one of those shrubs, which need a male counterpart.

Thanks again,
Olaf