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Identification

dan skinnerdan skinner Posts: 4
in Plants

Hello,

I've attached several photos of a shrub that is very pungent that I would like to incorporate into my landscaping but can not identify.The picture of the plant with rounded leaves was taken in NJ (High Point State park) in a partially shaded area while the more angular leaves pic was taken in Breckenridge, Co. I have smelled this as well in upstate NY as a child, which is why I'm trying to track it down (so many good memoriesimageimage associated with it.

Any help would be appreciated.

Kind regards,

Dan

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Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,905

    Hi Dan. Most of us are in the UK and may not be too familiar with some of the American plants but if you can give us an idea as to what the plant smells of it may help in identifying.

    I meant to add that it is quite unusual to see such major leaf differences other than in plants whose mature leaves are different to its juvenile leaves eg ivy and eucalyptus.

    Last edited: 18 July 2016 15:38:08

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    I thought it was two different plants to ID. ???

    The leaves on the bottom one look very fern like. 

  • MrMahoniaMrMahonia Posts: 82

    i would put money on them both being ferns. bottom one looks like asplenium ceterach

  • Fif2Fif2 Posts: 69

    My guess for the first one is Sweet Cicely or Myrrh and smells of licorice.

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,905

    Hi Kitty. That was my thought too - re it being two plants to identify.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    A few more pics might help and an indication of size, but as ladybird says, most of us aren't familiar with US plants. 

    I'm finding it hard to believe that those 2 are the same plant tbh.

    The top one resembles Achillea grandifolia in leaf, that has a strong smell. It's not a shrub, though could be mistaken for one if you only see it in full growth. 

    The second is not an achillea of any sort



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I thought fern for the second but can't see how that could be confused with a shrub.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • dan skinnerdan skinner Posts: 4

    Hello,

    Thanks for the replies. The reason for posting it to this site is that this shrub/bush seems to be a stickler for the local nurseries, even the horticultural school at the State University (Rutgers) is perplexed.

    I have two more pics- unfortunately they do not show much more.other then a reddish stem/branch. I would say that both these plants are of the same size- roughly 60 or so centimeters high.The olfactory component is tricky to detail- all I can say is that they smell identical to each other.

    imageimage

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    60cms  tall is too small for the achillea I suggested and I don't think it's sweet cicely.

    The second pic rules out the ferns. They may smell the same but I don't think they are the same. Smell is so hard to describe but it brings back so many memories doesn't it.

    Back to the drawing board.

    Have you ever seen any flowers, or seen them in winter to know if they're evergreen



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • dan skinnerdan skinner Posts: 4

    Well, it deserves another hike! I'll take my lovely bride with me for a stroll and will hopefully catch it in bloom and take more pictures.

    Cheers,

    Dan

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