What is this shrub?

Discussion in 'Identification Area' started by green-arrow, Jul 20, 2013.

  1. green-arrow

    green-arrow Apprentice Gardener

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    I posted pictures of this a while back but it was not identified because of a lack of flowers/fruit.

    I now have some photos that might help - thanks!

    1-P1000643.JPG 1-P1000683.JPG IMG_20130720_120630.jpg IMG_20130720_120615.jpg
     
  2. Reetgood

    Reetgood Gardener

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    Is it possible it's a type of hydrangea?
     
  3. Victoria

    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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  4. Lolimac

    Lolimac Guest

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    Looks like a type of Cornus:blue thumb:
     
  5. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    I agree Cornus, perhaps Cornus sanguinea? If so the stems may well be bright red in Winter - but if that is indeed the variety it would benefit from being stooled each spring, but looking at the configuration of the stems I don't think that will be possible now :(
     
  6. green-arrow

    green-arrow Apprentice Gardener

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  7. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    Your first picture looks very "upright" and bushy for Cornus controversa? No telling how it might have been pruned in the past though.
     
  8. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    Looks more like a Calicarpa bodnieri :blue thumb: The purple berries are the giveaway :)

    Same family as viburnum.
     
  9. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    I think Calicarpa would have pinker flowers? and tight bunches of berries, rather than loose? I think the leaves in the photo look to be too shiny for Viburnum family.
     
  10. silu

    silu gardening easy...hmmm

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    Doesn't look anything like my Calicarpa and the way the berries are formed isn't the same at all. Personally I think it is a Cornus Controversa which someone has pruned into the shape it now is?
     
  11. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    I suppose it depends on the variety of the calicarpa. Some have very pale pink flowers with dark purple berries.

    This is our variety.

    callicarpa-bodinieri.jpg

    Actually, comparing it, now, with the picture above the leaves and the colour of the berries look the same but the calicarpa is completely spherical whereas the other isn't.
     
  12. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    Interesting. Driving out & about I see a lot of "bushes" neatly trimmed into vaguely ball shaped, so that's a distinct possibility. Pity those as its distinctive "wedding cake" tiered shape is a lovely thing to behold. Can it be pruned such that it will revert to its normal form do you think?
     
  13. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    Its lovely. You need a "one of each" bulk box on sale at your open day. I'd buy one :blue thumb:
     
  14. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    We've never done cuttings of the caliparpas. We have two of them and they don't stand up to dry conditions too well. It doesn't affect the growth but the leaves droop to show it's unhappy. Even when the plants around it seem quite satisfied we need to ocassionally chuck a bucket of water at them. They're just coming into flower now.
     
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