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Lovely shrub, but what is it?

phill4phill4 Posts: 23
in Plants

Hi again.

I would live to know what this shrub is that is in my garden. Last spring I pruned it to ground level and it grew to approx 5 ft tall over the season. The foliage was a lovely silvery grey/purple colour. I've just pruned it back and took lots of hardwood cuttings which I hope will take root, but what is the name of this plant. You can see the small thorns on the stems.imageimageimageimage

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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,863

    It looks to me like a Rubus cockburnianus, although the one I know has vivid green leaves. 

    I cut it right down to ground level about now every year. It's easily propagated by layering the tips of branches, just bending them down to touch the ground and placing a brick on them for a few months. 

    Last edited: 27 February 2017 15:22:55


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





  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 7,890

    Another possibility is Rosa Glauca. 

    Suggets you Google Dove's and my suggestions and see if either plant resembles yours when it's in full foliage.

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,158

    my money's on the rose. 



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • phill4phill4 Posts: 23

    Yes its the Rose, the leaves look exactly like this

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rosa_glauca_leaves_img_1851.jpg

    But I have not seen any flowers on mine in the 2 years I have lived at this house.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,158

    I see you've shortened the stems, you've cut the flowering bits off there. Best pruned, if you have to prune it, by cutting some stems right back to the base and leaving the rest untouched. It floowers on the growth it made the previous year.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • phill4phill4 Posts: 23

    Thanks guys.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,863

    I should have spotted that image I've got a Rosa glauca but it's young and doesn't have that many spines ...yet ...


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





  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 7,890

    It's a lovely plant Phill.image One I have always found space for in my gardens. 

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • phill4phill4 Posts: 23

    Yes it really is. I moved to a house with a large mature garden and I'm now starting to get round it and learn whats growing there. Trying to carefully renovate and modernise without loosing the character. This shrub was leggy and overgrown when I moved there so I started pruning it. Lovely colour. Thanks

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,863

    If you look at the back of this little group you'll see my baby Rosa glauca with a couple of blooms. 

    Oh, the pic hasn't appeared ... hang on a min

    Last edited: 27 February 2017 17:19:42


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





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