Plant & Weed ID Megathread

rje66 · 01-03-2021 3:06pm

Brego888 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what this tree is?
Love the colours.
Photos are from October.

Poss Prunus serrulata 'Kanzan', a cherry blossom. Cherry blossoms are great choices in that they have great flowers and later in season great autumn colour some will have attractive bark as well.

flended12 · 02-03-2021 9:20am

Good morning boys n girls,

Had a go at the garden clear out like many of us did here in 2020 and now aiming to overseed the lawn etc.

Theres 2 plants in the garden that are a bit unruly at the moment and before I "prune them" perhaps one you fine folk can let me know what they are and type of pruning maintenance etc.

lottpaul · 02-03-2021 9:27am

The first two are Fatsia Japonica and you can prune it to suit it's location etc. They are a lot tougher than they appear.
The second plant looks like Euphorbia Mellifera or similar and it can also be cut back very hard but it carries a huge warning - as do all euphorbias - the milky sap, which pours out - can burn skin very easily, especially in sunlight and is very dangerous to have near eyes, mouth etc so wear gloves and long sleeves, don't touch your face and dispose of the cuttings where no child will pick them up. The plant itself will ooze for a while and you should be wary of it until the cuts heal over.

flended12 · 02-03-2021 10:17am

lottpaul wrote: »

The first two are Fatsia Japonica and you can prune it to suit it's location etc. They are a lot tougher than they appear.
The second plant looks like Euphorbia Mellifera or similar and it can also be cut back very hard but it carries a huge warning - as do all euphorbias - the milky sap, which pours out - can burn skin very easily, especially in sunlight and is very dangerous to have near eyes, mouth etc so wear gloves and long sleeves, don't touch your face and dispose of the cuttings where no child will pick them up. The plant itself will ooze for a while and you should be wary of it until the cuts heal over.

Your the man!!! Many thanks

LaChatteGitane · 02-03-2021 10:23am

I thought the second one to be oleander, but I might be mistaken. The first is definitely fatsia japonica, beautiful and lush plant to have in the garden.

lottpaul · 02-03-2021 11:42am

LaChatteGitane wrote: »

I thought the second one to be oleander, but I might be mistaken. The first is definitely fatsia japonica, beautiful and lush plant to have in the garden.

You might be right - I just thought the smaller flowers were more typical of euphorbia.

The Continental Op · 02-03-2021 12:16pm

lottpaul wrote: »

You might be right - I just thought the smaller flowers were more typical of euphorbia.

Don't worry its a euphorbia. flended12 will know from the honey scent when its in full flower.

LaChatteGitane · 02-03-2021 12:17pm

lottpaul wrote: »

You might be right - I just thought the smaller flowers were more typical of euphorbia.

I'm not sure if it's oleander though. Normally you would now still see the seedpods with 'fluff' inside. The flower buds wouldn't be noticeable yet.

The Continental Op · 02-03-2021 12:21pm

LaChatteGitane wrote: »

I'm not sure if it's oleander though. Normally you would now still see the seedpods with 'fluff' inside. The flower buds wouldn't be noticeable yet.

I've only got to go outside and look at our Euphorbia Mellifera to see its the same. The stem is also a give away for me all those old leaf scars are also fairly diagnostic.

Fern Bench · 03-03-2021 12:05am

pat2167 wrote: »

Hi, as I was sorting my seeds I found some unlabeled flower seeds. Any ideas?

I sowed seeds that looked exactly like that just the other day. Orlaya Grandiflora. Similar to Angelica

flended12 · 03-03-2021 11:17am

lottpaul wrote: »

The second plant looks like Euphorbia Mellifera or similar and it can also be cut back very hard but it carries a huge warning - as do all euphorbias - the milky sap, which pours out - can burn skin very easily, especially in sunlight and is very dangerous to have near eyes, mouth etc so wear gloves and long sleeves, don't touch your face and dispose of the cuttings where no child will pick them up. The plant itself will ooze for a while and you should be wary of it until the cuts heal over.

Right so, sorted the trimming/pruning as per above precautions. Interestingly the weeping sap was a creamy light blue colour, needless to say the pruned branches have been hidden away.

2nd questions as per pic attached, I pruned it right back to leave just a few shoots, should have asked that course of action beforehand but presume it will just grown back and I can maintain as it grows?

Brego888 · 03-03-2021 11:32am

rje66 wrote: »

Poss Prunus serrulata 'Kanzan', a cherry blossom. Cherry blossoms are great choices in that they have great flowers and later in season great autumn colour some will have attractive bark as well.

Thanks for that. How old would you think that tree in the photos is? Would be the perfect size for my small garden but from a bit of googling it looks like it gets a lot bigger.

tromtipp · 03-03-2021 1:32pm

That looks 5 or 6 years old. Cherries are lovely but do grow big, and also have extensive ground-level root systems that can break paths and wreck lawnmower blades. A hawthorn, with red or white flowers might be a better choice. Not such pretty autumn colour, but nice overall shape, good flowers, fruit for the birds, and compact size.

Brego888 · 05-03-2021 5:18pm

tromtipp wrote: »

That looks 5 or 6 years old. Cherries are lovely but do grow big, and also have extensive ground-level root systems that can break paths and wreck lawnmower blades. A hawthorn, with red or white flowers might be a better choice. Not such pretty autumn colour, but nice overall shape, good flowers, fruit for the birds, and compact size.

Great advice thanks. I wouldn't want a tree with significant root growth that might wreck our new drive.
Any other small colourful trees I should look into?
I like some of the Acers like the Japanese but the area I'd be planting would be too exposed and windy for them the thrive.

looksee · 05-03-2021 5:28pm

Crab apple would give you blossom and fruit, some have nice autumn foliage. You can either use the fruit for jelly or leave them for the birds - or both!

macraignil · 05-03-2021 6:32pm

Brego888 wrote: »

Great advice thanks. I wouldn't want a tree with significant root growth that might wreck our new drive.
Any other small colourful trees I should look into?
I like some of the Acers like the Japanese but the area I'd be planting would be too exposed and windy for them the thrive.

June berry is also a nice small tree that might be an option.

looksee · 05-03-2021 8:09pm

I've been trying to get an Amelanchier for the last 12 months, just not prepared to pay the €60 or €70 that seems to be the price - where they are available, everywhere has been out of stock since the Autumn.

pat2167 · 05-03-2021 10:37pm

Fern Bench wrote: »

I sowed seeds that looked exactly like that just the other day. Orlaya Grandiflora. Similar to Angelica

Thanks very much, Fern Bench. I thought that my seedlings' true leaves were a bit ferny for angelica. Orlaya is stunning, I'll definitely plant a whole lot.

RebelButtMunch · 08-03-2021 10:01am

looksee wrote: »

I've been trying to get an Amelanchier for the last 12 months, just not prepared to pay the €60 or €70 that seems to be the price - where they are available, everywhere has been out of stock since the Autumn.

There's a massive one of them growing semi-wild near me South Dublin. Would you be able to take a cutting?

randomguy · 08-03-2021 10:29am

looksee wrote: »

I've been trying to get an Amelanchier for the last 12 months, just not prepared to pay the €60 or €70 that seems to be the price - where they are available, everywhere has been out of stock since the Autumn.

We moved into our house three years ago, and there is a single Amelanchier (Juneberry) in the back garden. We love it - lovely foliage, lovely flowers, ever-changing, and a nice size for a suburban garden. Only downside is very little interest in winter. (It was there when we moved in, so I have no advice as to where to get one).

looksee · 08-03-2021 12:15pm

RebelButtMunch wrote: »

There's a massive one of them growing semi-wild near me South Dublin. Would you be able to take a cutting?

Thank you for that, but I am way down south of the country. Its not the right time of year for cuttings either. If I hang on I am sure I will get a younger one at a reasonable price from Future Forests or the like when things get back to normal.

CiaranTheGreat · 08-03-2021 1:10pm

looksee wrote: »

Thank you for that, but I am way down south of the country. Its not the right time of year for cuttings either. If I hang on I am sure I will get a younger one at a reasonable price from Future Forests or the like when things get back to normal.

I got one in Lidl about 3 weeks ago. It’s a small plant. It was part of their plants for wildlife promotion. There may be one left hanging around in your local store

macraignil · 08-03-2021 1:55pm

looksee wrote: »

Thank you for that, but I am way down south of the country. Its not the right time of year for cuttings either. If I hang on I am sure I will get a younger one at a reasonable price from Future Forests or the like when things get back to normal.

If you are near the north Cork area I have a few amelanchier cuttings already stuck in the ground from a few months back and if they take as well as the ones I propagated in previous years I can dig one up for you in the autumn if you want it. I found they do very well from cuttings and some of the ones I propagated are bigger than the original ones I bought.

mojesius · 08-03-2021 3:33pm

Bought a house last year and we have this all over the garden boundaries and it's growing in random patches. Horrible prickly stuff but we're not sure of what it is? Thank you

RebelButtMunch · 08-03-2021 3:36pm

mojesius wrote: »

Bought a house last year and we have this all over the garden boundaries and it's growing in random patches. Horrible prickly stuff but we're not sure of what it is? Thank you

Gorse

wildwillow · 08-03-2021 3:38pm

Hard to tell from photo but probably a variety of gorse. Otherwise, maybe a berberis.

The Continental Op · 08-03-2021 3:38pm

^^^

Not country people are you

< aimed at mojesius not the posters that got there before me.

Its gorse or furze as some call it.

When gorse is out of bloom, kissing is out of season

mojesius · 08-03-2021 3:51pm

The Continental Op wrote: »

^^^

Not country people are you < aimed at mojesius not the posters that got there before me.

Its gorse or furze as some call it.

When gorse is out of bloom, kissing is out of season

Haha, no I'll admit I'm a blow-in just moved and know feck all about gardening or plants. Husband is out deweeding and didn't know what it was (he is from the country originally so sounds like he should know

).

I'll go off and research gorse now, it's taking over here. Thanks

wildwillow · 08-03-2021 4:14pm

It will be a hard task to get rid of it. Probably best to dig out as much as possible and then treat carefully with a brushwood weedkiller. You need to keep an eye on it re-establishing itself.

Farmers used to burn vast tracts of it around this time of year, sometimes causing serious fires and destroying the countryside.

I think that may be illegal now.

loyatemu · 08-03-2021 4:23pm

wildwillow wrote: »

Farmers used to burn vast tracts of it around this time of year, sometimes causing serious fires and destroying the countryside.

I think that may be illegal now.

It is illegal, and they're still doing it.

MacDanger · 08-03-2021 4:28pm

loyatemu wrote: »

It is illegal, and they're still doing it.

Only illegal from Mar-Aug according to this:

https://iwt.ie/prohibition-burning-vegetation/

As an aside, we'd have known them as "whins" rather than gorse where I'm from

mojesius · 08-03-2021 9:31pm

wildwillow wrote: »

It will be a hard task to get rid of it. Probably best to dig out as much as possible and then treat carefully with a brushwood weedkiller. You need to keep an eye on it re-establishing itself.

Farmers used to burn vast tracts of it around this time of year, sometimes causing serious fires and destroying the countryside.

I think that may be illegal now.

Thank you for the advice. Yeah we looked into it more and found that this was the case. To the back of us and one side is a farmer's field and it's growing from there, among hedges and plants. It's a huge area with a built up bank so we are just going to leave what's already there and make sure it doesn't encroach further into our garden. However, we spotted some sprouting at the front of the garden and in front of fencing so will tackle that as it's less established. Pesky stuff!

SuperSean11 · 09-03-2021 7:17pm

Can anybody tell me what the things are growing on the trunk. I assume it’s a sort of fungus but am unsure? Cheers.

The Continental Op · 09-03-2021 7:55pm

Wild guess Birch Polypore Bracket Fungus.

Assuming its an old birch stump and the fungus itself has died.

SuperSean11 · 10-03-2021 12:00am

Cheers

fryup · 16-03-2021 6:08pm

what's this...

rje66 · 16-03-2021 7:48pm

fryup wrote: »

what's this...

Osteospermum??

rje66 · 16-03-2021 7:52pm

Similar leaves??

mojesius · 24-03-2021 12:59pm

Can someone please identify this hedging?

Reckless Abandonment · 24-03-2021 1:10pm

Looks like
Berberis darwinii to me

The Continental Op · 24-03-2021 1:33pm

Reckless Abandonment wrote: »

Looks like
Berberis darwinii to me

100%

(until proved wrong)

thejaguar · 24-03-2021 3:17pm

Can anyone identify this - I presume its a grass of some sort?

And is it dead?

rje66 · 24-03-2021 3:25pm

thejaguar wrote: »

Can anyone identify this - I presume its a grass of some sort?

And is it dead?

I'm guessing miscanthus and not dead. Pull away the straw and new shoots will be soon emerging

standardg60 · 24-03-2021 8:31pm

The Continental Op wrote: »

100%

(until proved wrong)

Wood doesn't look yellow enough to me, but would need to see a better pic.

Olearia macrodonta perhaps

Edit, just zoomed in there and can see the yellow flower buds, darwinii it is.

The Continental Op · 24-03-2021 8:45pm

standardg60 wrote: »

Wood doesn't look yellow enough to me, but would need to see a better pic.

Olearia macrodonta perhaps

Edit, just zoomed in there and can see the yellow flower buds, darwinii it is.

Olearia did cross my mind but when you compare the leaf size with the head of the nail I couldn't think of one with leaves that small.

mojesius · 24-03-2021 9:31pm

I'll try getting better pictures of it next time I'm on my looped walk. Been admiring it for a few weeks and would love to plant some for front of our garden

wildwillow · 25-03-2021 8:38am

It is berberis alright I think. It is a nightmare if planted where you are hand weeding as the leaves are so thorny, even when almost fully rotted.

Dutch Roll · 25-03-2021 12:33pm

Hello all,

I'm almost a complete novice regarding plants, gardening etc.

Can someone please identify the bushes, tree and plant in the attached images?

Do I need to cut back the long spindly things on the plant?

Cheers.

macraignil · 25-03-2021 12:54pm

Dutch Roll wrote: »

Hello all,

I'm almost a complete novice regarding plants, gardening etc.

Can someone please identify the bushes, tree and plant in the attached images?

Do I need to cut back the long spindly things on the plant?

Cheers.

I'm going to guess that 1. is heather
2. is birch
and 3. is lavender

I think lavender is usually trimmed back a bit after the flowering finishes so I would cut off the long spindly things on the plant back to where there is some healthy new growth.

Happy gardening!

Dutch Roll · 25-03-2021 1:39pm

macraignil wrote: »

Happy gardening!

Great thank you. I guessed the first was heather, I should have backed myself! I have a large lawn that I will be asking for advice about elsewhere on this forum. The start of a long journey I think.

Cheers.

Plant & Weed ID Megathread

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