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Shrub ID

Anna33Anna33 Posts: 300
in Plants

Can anyone help ID this large shrub? It's a really fast grower, and I've never seen flowers on it to help identify it - we've only been here two years, and I cut it down to a bare trunk about a meter high last year, meaning to dig it out. Got distracted by all the more interesting jobs in the garden, and in that time it's shot back up again. Currently about 3m high. (I've also been cutting all the lower branches off so it didn't take over that patch of garden). Also photos seem to be uploading sideways - sorry!

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Last edited: 14 October 2016 10:00:10

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 33,745

    prunus lusitanica springs to mind. Portugal Laurel. Google image and see what you think.

    Devon.
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    My best guess.. It looks like a privet to me. Often used as hedging when closely clipped with shears.

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 33,745

    you might well be right kitty,I just thought there was a hint of redness to the stems in the last photo.

    Devon.
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    I spotted that too Hosta and was in two minds about it. I plumped for privet because the leaves are so close to the main stem.

    I'm off outside to check and compare my privet & laurel image

  • Anna33Anna33 Posts: 300

    Thank you both - and Kitty, yes, a quick Google for types of privet and there's several matching pictures. Now I feel even less guilty about digging it out - it seems to do nothing useful as a plant (wildlife-y related), and takes up too much space in my tiny garden, so I'd much rather replace it with something better. Much as I hate getting rid of living things, it's really not suitable for where it is!

    Thanks again!

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 33,745

    glad you got it sorted Anna. 

    It's useful for nesting birds ,and, as Kitty said, easily trimmed with shears .

    If you took some of the stems to about 12", it's be bushier at the bottom . Next year , do the same with a few more. 

    Just an option. As you say, we hate getting rid of living things. Maybe it could be salvaged and adapted? 

    Any other IDs for us? image

    Devon.
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    Glad you've got a positive ID Annaimage

    I took a snap for comparison. Privet on the left, laurel on the right.

    I'll post it anyway so Hosta can have a giggle imagining me squeezing down the back of the shed to pick a leggy bitimageimage

    image

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