id help please!

seamusagleann · #1 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 03:06 PM

came across this shrub while cleanin around a lily pond in glen coe!! the previous owner,lord strathcona , had a native north american wife, and tried to make her feel at home by planting several tree species from canada ,might be a clue there! but sadly she didn't like it and went home!! hope someone can help

valleyforge · #2 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 03:13 PM

Looks a lot like some form of rhododendron, maybe ?

seamusagleann · #3 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 03:17 PM

was told years ago that it could be a hybrid form off rhoddy but the leaves look more like a laural or bay tree

valleyforge · #4 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 03:27 PM

You're right Seamus, the leaves are quite laurel like, but we have a very old rhoddy here in our garden that looks very similar and which I initially mistook for a laurel ... until it flowered

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Kayleigh · #5 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 03:32 PM

Its deff not Bay tree..

seamusagleann · #6 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valleyforge

You're right Seamus, the leaves are quite laurel like, but we have a very old rhoddy here in our garden that looks very similar and which I initially mistook for a laurel ... until it flowered

.

i've not seen it flower yet ,but we gave it a radical pruning back to the stump ,making sure there were shoots showing ,it'll still grow ,maybe it will flower then!!

KeenTeen17 · #7 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 04:42 PM

Maybe Spurge Laurel

davidbr · #8 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 07:26 PM

It looks like an Elaeagnus sp.... and they're not easy to ID especially if it's a planted relic specimen you're talking about, when various sterile garden hybrids come into play

However... my opinion would be Broad-leaved Oleaster, Elaeagnus macrophylla - it's a fairly common constituent of mass roadside or car park plantings etc.