What is this tree/bush?

I have these 2 growing in close proximity in my garden. Every spring the leaves appear to go red, and then I have a mass falling of leaves. However, it is evergreen as it's never bare. Can anyone help me identify it please so I can learn how to manage it?

 

Hello Algoz66 and welcome to GC.

Firstly, may I ask your location ... or should I say the location of this shrub ... but I think I know?

Does it have tiny white flowers and then black berries. If it does, then it's a Myoporum acuminatum, the Australian Blueberry Tree.

Enjoy the forum.

 

Hi Algoz66 and welcome to the site. It looks like a cherry laurel to me (Prunus laurocerasus ) but I can't be sure.

See here: http://images.google.co.uk/images?h...&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title

 

Thanks for the welcome! I live in Surrey, England, but my 2nd home is Portugal! These 2 trees/shrubs are in my garden in Surrey. It doesn't have many flowers. About 2 weeks ago it had a couple of small heads of flowers, but I don't recall ever seeing any berries on it

 

Thanks - the leaves look similar, but this one doesn't have long flowers like those in the picture(s). Guess it could be a different variety?

 

The second pic looks awfully like laurel leaves.

Welcome BTW

 

Pois então ... you are obviously near Algoz which is my postal address but I live in Calvos-Carrasqueira (halfway on the road to São Bartolomeu de Messines).

So, it's not a Mioporo then ... the famed Algarvian hedge. I have one which is a tree like your picture, about 5 meters tall and has grown from a seedling to that in four years!

I will have to say then that I agree with Blackthorn as she is usually 100% correct ..

 

could it be prunus lusitanica, very apt if it is.

 

It's a Photinia x fraseri Red Robin. You describe what it does with its leaves perfectly. It's easy to look after, just prune in spring or summer if you want to.

 

I too thought of photinia, but it should still be showing red leaves, as mine is, though much darker than in early spring.

 

I agree with Pete, a Portuguese laurel. Have a look.....http://images.google.co.uk/images?q..._enGB240GB241&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi

and not a Photinia........http://images.google.co.uk/images?q..._enGB240GB241&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi

Evergreen trees/shrubs tend to loose their leaves more in the spring time, than other times though out the year. If they are causing you a problem, when you are clearing the leaves, give the branches a shake to see if anymore of the leaves will fall.

Hope this Helps!

 

It's a Photinia Red Robin.
Portugese laurel (Prunus lusitanica) has a narrower leaf, with a more pointed tip, and also has small stipules at the base of the leaf stalks. If you look at the ground beneath the plant in picture 1 you will see the fallen red old leaves typical of Red Robin at this time of year. My Red Robin in my frony garden lost the colour from its new growth a couple of weeks ago and is now just mid green.

 

That is very kind of you Victoria, but I think my actual score is about 60/40. But I do love this game. :D

Looking again, I think Lavender is probably right. I just have never seen mine without at least some red leaves on.

 

Welldone Lavender, I've never grown a photinia, it crossed my mind, but I also thought the new growth would still be showing some red.

I also didn't realise the old leaves turned red before falling.:thumb:

 

Well, that certainly stimulated a lot of conversation!! Many many thanks to all you kind people for your input and advice. I think, based upon popularity, I will go for fotinia!
Appreciate everyone's comments (what a great forum!). :thmb: