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Plant identification

JuneJacJuneJac Posts: 16
in The potting shed
I bought a Magnolia a few years ago and it had flowers on it when bought. Last year it had some flower buds on it bit most of them died off.  This year it looks quite healthy bit no flower buds.  It actually doesn’t resemble a magnolia at all.  It has plenty of small leaves and what looks like a spikey bud.  This is a picture of it. Can anyone tell me what has happened to it please. Thank you

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Don't know what's happened to your magnolia ... but that's a Goat Willow, Salix caprea ... those are the female catkins ... the male catkins are the familiar 'Pussy Willow'  commonly pops up in gardens because the seeds drift around like thistledown.  Good for wildlife, but not the plant for most gardens, unless you have several acres, so if I were you I'd grub that out as soon as possible.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    A good luck with getting that one out,   They’ve got a tap root that goes down to Australia almost, 😀
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • JuneJacJuneJac Posts: 16
    Thank you for your replies.  I really do not know what has happened to my magnolia or how I have ended up with a Goat Willow.  It’s actually in a pot and judging by your comments I would be best getting rid of it.  Ah well, I will try again with a new magnolia.
  • JuneJacJuneJac Posts: 16
    You would have thought so but no. I have had it a few years and it was flowering for the first couple of years but then it didn’t do very well. It’s all very strange.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    If you cant get the root out, cut it back to a stick. Every time a leaf bud shows,rub it off. The plant will give up in a year or two 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • JuneJacJuneJac Posts: 16
    Thank you for all your help and messages.  Fortunately the magnolia was in a pot where the goat willow started growing. I have managed to remove it and also found the dead root of the magnolia.  As soon as the garden centres reopen I will be on the look out for a new magnolia 👀
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I expect your Magnolia has suffered from being in the pot @JuneJac
    The long hot, dry weather in the last 2 summers will have been difficult for it. They need copious watering in a pot, and they need a big pot if they're staying there long term.
    If you can't get it planted in the ground, consider making a purpose built container for it instead, so that you can give it a better chance of thriving  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JuneJacJuneJac Posts: 16
    Thank you for the most recent post.  Regrettably I lost the magnolia.  Removed everything from the pot only to find the dead roots of the magnolia.  When the garden centres reopen I will be looking for a replacement 🌿
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