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Plant to ID and what to do with it

Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
in Plants
Hi

Can anyone say what this plant is please? And indeed can anyone tell me why portrait pics always come out landscape and the wrong way up? I've tried several times to get this one the right way up, or to rotate it once it's embedded, without success!!


 It is growing in a hedge outside the kitchen window - see pic below with apologies for the reflection. It is in the bottom left below an orange berberis, which is the bulk of the hedge on the left, and next to a bit of a sad-looking conifer thing. On the right there is a cotoneaster.


I don't want to trim the smaller plant because it is going to flower, but I would also like to know what it is and whether a hedge is the best place for it.

Longer-term I'm thinking about taking out the berberis, conifer and another conifer behind them as I would like to have a hamamelis and I think that would be a good place for one - south-facing and close to the back door.

All thoughts welcome as ever, thanks
No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

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Posts

  • ERICS MUMERICS MUM Posts: 627
    edited June 2023
    I think it might be a Spiraea (sometimes spelt Spirea) of some sort.  Usually have pink flowers.

    Spiraeas die down in autumn and come back April-ish every year.  
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Usually it’s the portrait photos that come out sideways. Landscape usually ok.
    site has a mind of its own. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If you just trim a smidgeon from one edge of your photo it’ll load the right way up … don’t ask why?  Nobody knows … or if they do they ain’t telling 😉 
      
    Is that better?

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





  • Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
    @Dovefromabove yes, that helps, thanks.
    And I know you are usually the font of all knowledge here (among others of course!) so do I take it you agree it's a spirea? It could be - the leaves look right, but if it has big flowers it could be tricky as it's in a narrow pathway
    No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’ll hold up my hands here and say that Spirea is something I’ve never grown … so I’ll leave this one to those who have … 😊 

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





  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited June 2023
    @Stephanie newish gardener I wonder if the Spirea roots are mixed in with the berberis. There is a chance it won't come out with much root. A job for the Autumn I would say.  It could be Spirea Goldflame or simliar. It likes more sun than it is getting so the leaves are paler making it difficult to give an exact ID. Not that fussy regarding soil.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    The flowers are usually small and pinkish.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Small flowers in clusters.


    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Stephanie newish gardener Berberis roots are yellow if damaged, this may be helpful if there is a tangle of roots and you are unsure which is which.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Not all spireas have pink flowers, fortunately.  :)

    Some people use Spirea as hedging, so it's down to your preference when deciding what to keep. I think you'll have a job successfully separating those two from each other, so it could be hit and miss with whichever one you leave in place. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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