The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Tree, Plant and Wood I.D. => Topic started by: Dodgy Loner on April 21, 2008, 05:09:31 PM

Title: SOLVED! (Please help me ID these shrubs!)
Post by: Dodgy Loner on April 21, 2008, 05:09:31 PM
Alright guys, time to put your heads together to help me identify these shrubs.  I hate exotic ornamentals, so I don't have a clue what they are (More accurately, I hate that I know so little about exotic ornamentals ::)).  They're at a client's house, and all I was able to take was a few twigs, so it might be a little tough.  Just throw out random ideas and I can research them further myself to see if there's a match.  Thanks in advance for your help.

Shrub 1
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/15533/shrub4.jpg)

Shrub 2
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/15533/shrub3.jpg)

Shrub 3
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/15533/shrub2.jpg)

Shrub 4
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/15533/shrub1.jpg)
Title: Re: Please help me ID these shrubs!
Post by: Furby on April 21, 2008, 09:17:01 PM
#1 reminds me of Roseofsharon, but it's hard to tell from the pic.
Title: Re: Please help me ID these shrubs!
Post by: Lanier_Lurker on April 21, 2008, 10:26:56 PM
Dodgy, if they have you stumped then I don't know what your chances are.  Those exotics are tough.

Maybe some of the far flung outlying FF members can provide some help.  ???
Title: Re: Please help me ID these shrubs!
Post by: WDH on April 21, 2008, 11:28:45 PM
I am exotically challenged :).
Title: Re: Please help me ID these shrubs!
Post by: Dodgy Loner on April 22, 2008, 08:12:40 AM
Quote from: Furby on April 21, 2008, 09:17:01 PM
#1 reminds me of Roseofsharon, but it's hard to tell from the pic.

Aha!  Furby is correct!  I did some internet sleuthing and shrub #1 is, indeed, a Rose of Sharon.

A little independent research also seems to indicate that #3 is a glossy abelia.  It'll be easier to tell when the DanG thing flowers.
Title: Re: Please help me ID these shrubs!
Post by: OneWithWood on April 22, 2008, 10:00:52 AM
Shrub #2 could be multi flora rose.  Hard to tell.
Title: Re: Please help me ID these shrubs!
Post by: Sprucegum on April 22, 2008, 11:29:05 AM
Wish I could help - the only exotics we have here are dancers  :-X  :-[  :-X
Title: Re: Please help me ID these shrubs!
Post by: Dodgy Loner on April 22, 2008, 02:48:25 PM
Hard to tell from the pic, but the leaves on #2 are opposite, so it can't be multiflora rose.

I was at another clients home this morning, and she happened to have shrub #4 planted in her front yard.  "What's that?" says I.  "Spirea," she replied.  Shrub #4 is solved! 8)

Sprucegum we have those too, but they're easy to identify - you just have to know their tattoos. :-X ;)
Title: Re: Please help me ID these shrubs!
Post by: SwampDonkey on May 04, 2008, 07:01:13 PM
Yeah #4 is Spirea, a new spring sucker. They plant one with white flowers here in small clumps and shape them with shears. We have two wild varieties here, hard hack/steeplebush with a pink flower and another with a white flower, meadowsweet, both grow in wastelands, more common in the NB lowlands along the coast.
Title: Re: Please help me ID these shrubs!
Post by: SwampDonkey on May 04, 2008, 07:03:39 PM
Is #3 square stemmed? Kinda feels like a honeysuckle to me.
Title: Re: Please help me ID these shrubs!
Post by: SwampDonkey on May 04, 2008, 07:39:03 PM
serviceberry/juneberry (Amelanchier)? Looks like a berry producing shrub.
Title: Re: Please help me ID these shrubs!
Post by: Dodgy Loner on May 05, 2008, 11:47:28 AM
Actually, all of the shrubs are solved, now.  Here are the answers:

#1: Rose-of-Sharon
#2: Hydrangea
#3: Glossy Abelia
#4: Spirea

Much easier to ID now that the leaves are fully out :)!
Title: Re: SOLVED! (Please help me ID these shrubs!)
Post by: SwampDonkey on May 05, 2008, 04:07:03 PM
Yeah, Hydrangea makes sense for # 2.

I've had one of those dang things here for 30 years and still just a stick. I see others and they grow up like a small lilac bush. ::)

Yeah not only leaves, but handling the shrubs and looking it over for the details helps a lot. ;D

Title: Re: SOLVED! (Please help me ID these shrubs!)
Post by: Tom on May 05, 2008, 05:04:40 PM
Is your hydrangea mulched, Swamp Donkey?  They like being mulched down here.
Title: Re: SOLVED! (Please help me ID these shrubs!)
Post by: SwampDonkey on May 05, 2008, 06:34:39 PM
I don't mulch it Tom, except any lilac and sugar maple leaves that land on it and the tall flowers (yellow loostrife I think) beside it that die and break down beside it.  I think I need to either pull it and start over with a new plant or walk away. Haven't made up my mind, but not real keen on buying a new shrub at $40 or more a pop.  :( I have to do some tree transplanting soon, just need to get up and go.  ;D
Title: Re: SOLVED! (Please help me ID these shrubs!)
Post by: Tom on May 05, 2008, 07:05:07 PM
throw some leaves around if for mulch and walk off and leave it for awhile.   Make a mulch bed 6" or so deep and 3-4 feet around, as long as the plant sticks out.