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Does anyone know what this plant is and is it alive?

Pete83Pete83 Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi

Please could someone help with identifying what the plant is in the centre of the attached picture? We moved into the house a couple years ago and I found this plant on the back north facing fence when I was cutting back some other plants. I cut one of the branches and it seemed to have some green/life inside but have never noticed it before. Please could someone help and advise if it needs pruning etc.?

many thanks in advance

Posts

  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    edited December 2020
    Could it be an old honeysuckle? The  lower stems look like that with peeling almost bark. Maybe the green growth was only at the top over the fence, or on the other side, so you couldn't see what it was?

    If it's green inside then it must be alive. Pruning an old honeysuckle for the purposes of renovation is done in late winter February time, cutting it down to about 2 ft. It should regrow and hopefully you will get some flowers. 

    If it turns out to be a montana clematis then you would need to wait until after it has flowered to prune it back. Although, it doesn't look like clematis to me. 

    I wonder what others think? Anyone? 
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Grown in a place like that, it could also be a climbing Hydrangea, Hydrangea Anomala Subsp. Petiolaris. I would leave it alone and see what happens next year. 
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    Looks more like a honeysuckle than climbing Hydrangea to me.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited December 2020
    Borderline said:
    Grown in a place like that, it could also be a climbing Hydrangea, Hydrangea Anomala Subsp. Petiolaris. I would leave it alone and see what happens next year. 
    That was my thought too. I’d wait and see what happens in the spring. It could be glorious 😃 

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





  • Pete83Pete83 Posts: 2
    Many thanks all, really appreciate the help and I’ll leave until next year and see what happens 
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    Just wondering, can you even see the leaves when in growth or are they over the fence? You really need to see the leaves for a chance of ID. 
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    Looks very much like Hydrangea petiolaris to me too. 
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    On second thoughts I have to agree with Hydrangea petiolaris. Strange that the OP never saw it with its foliage and flowers. Your garden must have been a jungle before you cleared it, @peterlansdowne ;)
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