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ID Of shrub 'down under' please
Hi everyone. Haven't posted for a while although I do still look in from time to time. I'm currently visiting our daughter on the Queensland coast and have seen this shrub in a few gardens here. The flower is similar to a buddleia but I don't think that's what it is. Is anyone able to ID it for me please, and also would it be hardy in the UK. Thanks in advance ????
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Hi
Ceanothus or California lilac I believe
Really green Fingers? It's nothing like my ceanothus at home. any idea which one?
Hi
Google it and it looks very similar. Obviously, I might be completely wrong as it looks like a climber and if so, ceanothos is a shrub but do have a tendency to climb
I think it is a duranta, perhaps Japanese duranta, D. erecta.
Thank you DimWit, I googled Duranta and it definitely looks like it. Now have to see if it's hardy for me to grow at home.
Looks like the Duranta (Mexican Native I believe) that I grew to flank my driveway at my last house. Gifted to me by my Dad. The variety I grew formed lovely gold berries in the Fall/winter the birds loved. Growth habit on mine was umbrella-like and the Mexican lady that sold them to my Dad said to never prune the ends of the branches but rather to prune out branches from the center of the plant. My two would freeze down to the ground each year but when dead branches cut off to the base clump, they grew back in just one season in to huge bushes. They will kill out the lawn underneath. The people that bought that house have now cut the 6' round 6' tall shrubs lower growth and width to shape train them upwards, but I think they may die. Nope, my husband just walked in and said the last time he drove by the house, the new owners had cut them down to the ground with no clump visible anymore.
Last edited: 17 April 2017 18:01:07
That's a shame Peggy ☹️ And unfortunately for me they don't appear to be hardy enough for me to grow at home. May have to plant one in my daughter's garden instead ?
You could get a similar effect with the small leaved, evergreen form of ceanothus as long as you protect it from cold winds and frosts. Have a look here for varieties - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=354
Thanks for the suggestion Obelixx but I planted a ceanothus last year. I don't think the photo really does this plant justice, the flowers are a lot bigger, more like buddleia, which I already have too.
Lots of different forms of ceanothus with different shades of blue and different sizes of flower, different flowering times and even a rather garish variegated one.