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Can anyone identify this tree/shrub?

rezareza Posts: 12
in The potting shed
I need to prune this tree/shrub but don't know what it is so can't research how and when I should do it. Does anyone know what it is?

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Daphne, but I don't know which one. Approach pruning with caution.
    Devon.
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Has the look of D. bholua, possible Jacqueline Postil.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Shrubs that flower before the end of June should be pruned immediately after flowering finishes.   However, daphnes don't like hard pruning so be careful just to take it back a bit at a time over the seasons and gradually get it under control..
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    How lucky are you Reza, to have a daphne growing to that size. I notice it is in what I am guessing is a very sheltered corner of the house. I keep trying to grow them but they rarely live longer than 5/7 years, then suddenly, for no apparent reason turn up their toes and expire quietly. I found one in the reduced section of my local garden centre, £5.00 so am going to try once again. They are quite miffy to grow, do not like being moved or pruned so proceed with caution
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I agree with Palustris. It looks like a Daphne bholua Jacqueline Postill. They do not like pruning or being moved.  Like Joyce Goldenlily, I have lost two. One got to 5 ft then the graft failed and it died. The next was on its own roots, was going great until we had a minus 15C frost which killed it. It threw a couple of seedlings. I tried moving them at 6 inch high. They both died.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Glorious in flower, smell like a huge hyacinth.
  • rezareza Posts: 12
    edited January 2020
    Thank you so much for all your help. The shrub was there when we bought the house a couple of years ago and I've only recently started doing the gardening myself so am a complete novice. If it wasn't for experienced gardeners like you taking time to help people like me then I probably would have cut it right back and killed it.

    Thanks again and I'll prune very gently after flowering has finished.
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