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A plant ID please, you lovely people

FireFire Posts: 18,097
A very vigorous climber (triffid) with small red flowers in June/July. Latex oozes when cut. Deciduous. Any thoughts?




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  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,987
    The leaves look like some type of rubber vine.. but I don't think they have red flowers.   Mandevilla vines have red flowers and milky sap.. but are tender.. or at least only root hardy in the U.K.  A mystery.  
    Utah, USA.
  • FireFire Posts: 18,097
    Thanks Blue. I'll post again when in flower - not long now. That should give more of a clue. The flowers are small.
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I can't see the leaves properly, but take a look at Schisandra Rubriflora, the Magnolia Vine. 
  • FireFire Posts: 18,097
  • FireFire Posts: 18,097
    Front of leaf



    Back of leaf



    Latex-type sap - stays like pvc glue on the hands




  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,965
    Sounds like the Climbing Fig Ficus pumila. Pronounced veination of the underside of the leaves is a good identifier. 
     :) 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FireFire Posts: 18,097
    I think you might have it, Dove. Mine is not evergreen though and I can't find a picture of the flowers. If it is that, I'm even more minded to remove it. It is such a thug and has no place to ramble. Thanks for the closest lead so far.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,965
    There's lots of images here, including flowers https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ficus+pumila+flower&rlz=1C1PRFC_enGB734GB735&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjI-67BpvPaAhXKDMAKHbq4B5oQsAQIJg&biw=1093&bih=530 

    and  :o   https://gardenofeaden.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/how-to-grow-ficus-pumila.html

    I wonder if dropping its leaves is a reaction to the temperature drop in winter rather than being truly deciduous? 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FireFire Posts: 18,097
    Could be.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,965
    I've been doing a bit of reading ...  apparently removing it from brickwork can do serious damage if you're not careful   :o

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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