Here's a close-up pic. I agree now the leaves are opening up more they do look decidedly like wisteria - a white one by the look of it - which explains the long whippy shoots of course. I think I was confused by the tree next door, which is a cytisus battandieri (pineapple tree) - closely related to laburnum and with big furry pea pods which I remember from last year and thought might have been laburnum pods. Anyway - I guess I have my answer - I ought to have been frequently pruning these long whippy shoots to keep them under control. I guess I'll let it flower and then sort it out - I am going to have to be very strict with it or it will completely strangle the pineapple tree, which would be a shame. Thanks everyone for your help!
If it is wisteria, it would need some fairly special pruning to keep it as a standard tree.
Agreed but how glorious it would look afterwards!
I saw one yesterday (wisteria trained as a standard tree) and it was fantastic. My bus was on diversion so I don't normally go that way, but I've a mind to go specially and take a photo.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
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Zooming in I am seeing leaves more like Wisteria.
https://www.google.com/search?q=wisteria+leaves&client=firefox-b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjHwrKRyorbAhUsI8AKHdhlBK0Q_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=943#imgrc=qVzapNT8PZibnM:
Laburnum leaves are in 3's and look like...
https://www.google.com/search?q=laburnum+leaves&client=firefox-b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiO6O-_yorbAhUhJMAKHUCpDlUQ_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=943#imgrc=WK9PdEFoYnc1xM:
Anyway - I guess I have my answer - I ought to have been frequently pruning these long whippy shoots to keep them under control. I guess I'll let it flower and then sort it out - I am going to have to be very strict with it or it will completely strangle the pineapple tree, which would be a shame.
Thanks everyone for your help!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.