Forum home Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Shrub/Tree ID!

stewyfizzstewyfizz Posts: 161

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can identify this tree/shrub? I cut the lower branches off several years ago with a view to getting rid. However we liked the shape and kept it. It has since doubled in size and I need to ID it to see if it will get any bigger!

image

image

Last edited: 09 June 2016 21:47:58

Gardening. The cause of, and solution to, all of my problems.

Posts

  • stewyfizzstewyfizz Posts: 161

    Sorry, pics won't upload!

    Try again:

    image

    image

    Gardening. The cause of, and solution to, all of my problems.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I can't really see the leaves but think it's Prunus lusitanicus, Portugal Laurel



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • stewyfizzstewyfizz Posts: 161

    Thanks! Just searched for that and I think you've hit the nail on the head. Now worried because they grow to 12m! It's probably only half that now so I'm going to have to give it a serious haircut in the Autumn.

    Gardening. The cause of, and solution to, all of my problems.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    You can hack that back hard, makes a good hedge. At Wimpole Estate (NT) not far from here,they have some trained to about 8 foot like lampshades or mushrooms on a clear stem. Not keen myself but the plants seem OK



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • stewyfizzstewyfizz Posts: 161

    Thanks Nutcutlet. I'll keep it to the shape we have but good to know I can be fairly ruthless without doing much harm.

    Gardening. The cause of, and solution to, all of my problems.
  • WaysideWayside Posts: 845

    In its full splendour.  Wow.

  • WaysideWayside Posts: 845

    Doesn't Portuguese laurel have slender leaves and red shoots? 

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    narrow compared to P. laurocerasus but not really narrow.

    There are red tinges to the new stems but neither of these photos is clear enough to show that.

    Pic 1. could be any white flowering tree.

    ID based on

    1.flowering now,

    2.right flowers

    3. a few leaves almost in focus (sorry stewyfizzimage)

    I'm confident it's P. lusitanicus



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • stewyfizzstewyfizz Posts: 161

    Having since looked at other (in focus!) pics I am 99.9% certain that nutcutlet is correct. It's a wonderful tree and we love it, but our garden isn't big so I need to make sure Mr Laurel doesn't outgrow his surroundings. Couldn't or wouldn't cut it back until I knew what it was.

    Gardening. The cause of, and solution to, all of my problems.
Sign In or Register to comment.