Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: fuchsia on January 19, 2015, 18:25

Title: Plant ID
Post by: fuchsia on January 19, 2015, 18:25

I'm trying to identify all the plants in my garden so I can research their care etc. Anyone have any ideas about this plant?

The photos were taken on 10 November 2014. It was pretty bushy in July when I visited the house but unfortunately I didn't take a picture then and I don't think it was in flower. It's lost basically all it's leaves now leaving a fairly messy looking naked thing. The branches are quite wrinkly and gnarled looking - light brown in colour. Long whippy branches.

It's about 6 foot high at it's tallest and lives in quite a dark corner of the garden behind a hedge and under an apple tree but will get some sun mid/late afternoon.

Apologies for the poor quality photos - a new camera is on my shopping list

Title: Re: Plant ID
Post by: robinahood on January 19, 2015, 18:56

It looks a bit like a Willow Leaved Cotoneaster? Not positive from the pics but could be....

Title: Re: Plant ID
Post by: fuchsia on January 19, 2015, 20:33

Hi robinahood,

Thanks for the suggestion. I checked out the Willow Leaved Cotoneaster and I think the leaves of my plant are much smoother, less veined. Also I moved in to my house early October and haven't seen any berries.

Agree it looks quite willow-like. I had been looking at willow type plants previously.

Title: Re: Plant ID
Post by: Chrysalis on January 19, 2015, 21:08

Maybe a variety of buddleia?Leaves look a bit like mine, but not sure about the stems....

Title: Re: Plant ID
Post by: fuchsia on January 19, 2015, 22:03

Hi Chrysalis,

Would be delighted if it turned out to be a "Buddleja alternifolia". They look fantastic. Looks a fairly close match from the pics I've seen so far. Will do some more hunting tomorrow.

So much to learn, I thought a buddleia was a buddleia. Turns out there are 100 species

Title: Re: Plant ID
Post by: Goosegirl on January 20, 2015, 11:03

When I saw the first pic I thought it was an ornamental quince, but having seen the other pics I'm not sure. Could be a variety of cotoneaster or possibly a Buddleia.

Title: Re: Plant ID
Post by: sunshineband on January 20, 2015, 11:07

It is possible Buddleia alternifolia.. the growth looks similar as it is called Fountain Buddleia. You'll soon find out come summertime, fuchsia  :D

Title: Re: Plant ID
Post by: fuchsia on January 20, 2015, 13:58

Afternoon Goosegirl and sunshineband,

I've done an extensive search for pics of Buddleja alternifolia and they are a very close match. Growth is also the same so fingers crossed.

I think I'll do a very light prune next month and then wait and see what spring/summer brings. If it is the Buddleia, the flowers come on the last years growth and then you prune after flowering, so I need to be very careful.

I'm so excited to see what happens in the garden over the next few months  :)

Thanks for all the suggestions.