What is this shrub/small tree?

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by csiemens, Aug 21, 2009.

  1. csiemens

    csiemens Active Member

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    These came into bloom awhile in my neighborhood, and would love to know what they are to potentially plant in the backyard. There are four planted in a row on the boulevard, one of them has both white and pinkish red blooms. Does anyone know?
     

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  2. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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  3. csiemens

    csiemens Active Member

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    Thanks very much, for some reason I was thinking it was a crape myrtle, but the pictures you posted look more like Rose of Sharon, which I adore. Thanks!
     
  4. Liz

    Liz Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    No crepe myrtle looks different. I agree hibiscus. Certainly a lovely idea for street trees.
    I saw beautiful Oleander balls (pruned as ornaments) around lake Como several years ago that also took my fancy. Have tortured my one and only and am quiet proud of it.

    Liz
     
  5. csiemens

    csiemens Active Member

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    I was doing some reading on hibiscus/rose of sharon, and people comment that it looks old fashioned, which was interesting, I had not thought so much about that kind of thing in relation to shrubs/trees. Is 'old fashioned' a code word for something your great aunt would have loved?
     
  6. Liz

    Liz Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    I was listening to our Sunday morning radio program and there are groups working with the horticlture society rescuing these older types of plants for the futer. They act as the guardians. Many plants go out of fashion or are altered from the original. I have a few things from old gardens that I have not seen else where for a long time. The Canary Island palm was a big favourite here in the 40's and 50's. These days they are being recycled to parks and boulevards because they have out grown the suburbian gardens.
    When i was in Tasmania years ago there was a chap collecting plums of every description. May be you have a local group that does this. Might be interesting to see what they do.

    Liz
     
  7. csiemens

    csiemens Active Member

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    That is fascinating, I know there is a local woman who is archiving seeds, and I wouldn't be surprised if there were others collecting plants, Portland is that kind of place.
     
  8. Liz

    Liz Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    I hear that Portland is a garden city bit like Melbourne Aust. We had a fellow that was here on exchange years ago from there and I seem to rember him speaking about it.

    liz
     
  9. csiemens

    csiemens Active Member

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    The gardens here are amazing. I just moved here a couple of years ago and now have the fever, every day going out to check the garden, dreaming about new plants all the time....I swear it is like a drug they put in the water. Thank goodness I have the forums to do research, I don't have enough social contacts here to get information.....
     
  10. Liz

    Liz Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Yes this and other forums are very useful and open up so many nooks and crannies (sp) to explore in gardening. I am actuly retaining some of the Latin names to my suprise.

    Had a quick look re Portland seems to be fairly similar weather wise in that there is a nice mild period. You probably score more rain.

    Liz
     
  11. togata57

    togata57 Generous Contributor 10 Years

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    I have fond memories of "old-fashioned" shrubs and plants in the yards of my childhood home and those of my various grandparents, great-aunts, etc. in Illinois. Spirea bushes; lilac, iris of all colors; rose-of-Sharon, both as shrubs and trimmed into hedges; forsythia (ditto); columbine, delphinium, hollyhock; sweet pea; rambler roses; peonies; dahlias; sunflowers.--- When I am out driving (as a passenger, my preferred position---I get to look at the plants and trees) and see an old house with a herbaceous border, I get a sad/happy feeling. Yes, I have a special love for these old-style plants. May they ever flourish!
     

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