Shrub ID please

[Chuckles]

While tidying up at the back of the GH the other day I found this and don't have a clue what it is. It's obviously a cutting I've taken from somewhere and it's doing rather well ;D would love to know what it is though

[andy]

That's a tricky one...at first i though it was a bit like a rhodo but it's obviously not. Could it be a Daphne species.

Any more clues ?.....if you take a leaf off, does it exude white sap ?, does the leaf smell when crushed ?

Any more pics ?

[Chuckles]

I thought poss Daphne Andy but no flowers have appeared before the leaves, they do that don't they. I think it must be about 2-3 years old now. Will check the other things for you, be back later

[andy]

The closed buds going up the main stem just looked like a daphne Mezureum type plant to me.....it might be another species that flowers at a different time....not that i know of any

[Chuckles]

Well what a nice surprise, I've emptied it out the pot and there are 3 all with dammed good roots too ;D. I have in the past taken some cuttings from a Daphne at MIL's so you could be on the right track Andy. She no longer has it, chopped to death so cannot compare it, I'm very naughty at not labelling things

No sap and no particularly different smell to the leaves. The stem on each has little buds all the way up and the stem is more chunky at the bottom. The leaves are quite soft and thin, quite delicate looking really, no glossiness to them.













Hope these pics help and I will be well chuffed if it is a Daphne or should I say they ;D

[andy]

I'm pretty stumped chuckles....the last pic reminded me of a euonymous but usually, if you see a picture or a plant in the flesh, i'd always go with my first instinct and i would say Daphne unless anyone could possitively ID it.

Nice find though and keep us posted on its progress

[Chuckles]

Thanks for trying Andy, they are all 3 potted up now and having a good drink in the shade. I have never seen flowers on them and guess they are probably to young to flower anyway.

Have been Googling and thumbing through my RHS Enc and casting my memory back on colour, if it is a Daphne I think it could be this one. Thanks again for your effort, I'll keep you posted on how they do

Daphne Mezereum

[andy]

Yep....had a look at my D. Mezureum at work today and yours looks pretty damn similar

Devine smell when in flower (mine's just going over) so enjoy

[Chuckles]

Thanks Andy fingers crossed that's what they are I feel a bit guilty about the poor things really, they have been sitting around at the back of the GH in that one pot for a couple of years and not looked after at all. They sure look happier now they are in some good compo and seperate pots. Any idea how old they would need to be before I get flowers, I can't wait ;D

[Deleted]

Laburnum?

oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/lawa2.htm

[andy]

No Rita...they've been identified as Daphne mezureum. Laburnum are totally different and totally recognisable even as young seedlings

[Chuckles]

So pleased we are 99.999999% sure they are Daphne, guess we'll have to wait till next year for possible flowers

Thanks for trying Rita but I'm quite pleased they are not Laburnum they are lovely but one of those not in my garden shrubs/trees. We all have one or two like it but wouldn't have plants/shrubs etc ;D

[Deleted]

What a great find! They look suspiciously like a plant I bought from our GC on the bargain shelf with no label, so thanks for the thread as it's given me something to go on.

[Chuckles]

greety said:

So pleased we are 99.999999% sure they are Daphne, guess we'll have to wait till next year for possible flowers

Thanks for trying Rita but I'm quite pleased they are not Laburnum they are lovely but one of those not in my garden shrubs/trees. We all have one or two like it but wouldn't have plants/shrubs etc ;D

andy said:

Yep....had a look at my D. Mezureum at work today and yours looks pretty damn similar

Devine smell when in flower (mine's just going over) so enjoy

Well it's been a long wait from April 2007 to see what these actually turned out to be This is the bigger plant of the 3, they all survived but this one is now in flower. Looks like a Daphne to me ? ?

[Shrubrose]

yep I'd say so Chuckles. They do smell lovely too, when in bloom. I've got one near the pond. It's a slow grower though. Wonder if it's in the right place? Ground drains pretty well on that side but it does occasionally get a bash from the lawnmower!

[Amo]

Wow!! Great find AND ID!!!! OH bought me a Daphne last year. It was 4 inches high and cost him £10!!!!! Keep going with those cuttings, you've got a market for them here

[owdboggy]

Well, you are very lucky to keep even one alive after treating the roots that way. They detest root disturbance. For anyone else the easiest way to propagate D. mezureum is from seed, clean off the flesh and sow fresh. They germinate the following spring. They come true to colour too.

[Chuckles]

Thats me OB lucky ;D I'm so naughty sometimes and just take pot luck and have a go at things. All I can think is I either tucked them up really well after disturbing them or mother nature forgave me ;D

[Deleted]

Oh Chuchles, I'm greeeeeen with envy - tried taking cuttings of a friends D. Mezewhatsit last years, and they all died ... cheers ...