Help identifying trees??
by
Kimberlee
+24
Hello! A little background: I'm renovating and rejuvenating my childhood home. I've moved back to the house left to me by my father and I'm completely renovating the inside (a 1950's ranch with an add-on) and landscaping the yard for what will be this homes' first makeover in over 35 years! I've become awesome handy with a drill as well as a garden spade! I'm learning as I go and loving my home more all the time. It's our sanctuary.
Anyway,I'm I am working on clearing some of my yard for the spring plants and a swing set and I have some trees that I just can't decide what to do with. I like them but they're out of control. I don't know if I should prune or cut down. I think it would help if I knew what they were!
Any ideas? The first two are the same type of tree and the third is (I'm assuming) supposed to be a shrub that's taken over.
Anyway,I'm I am working on clearing some of my yard for the spring plants and a swing set and I have some trees that I just can't decide what to do with. I like them but they're out of control. I don't know if I should prune or cut down. I think it would help if I knew what they were!
Any ideas? The first two are the same type of tree and the third is (I'm assuming) supposed to be a shrub that's taken over.
tree 1
tree 2
tree/shrub
27 answers
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How big are the first two? If they're not more than 10 feet or so, they look like they could be anise. Crush a leaf a see if is smells like licorice. I can't really make out any details in the third picture. Is it covered in black berries?
Douglas Hunt
on Nov 17, 2012
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Hi Douglas, The first two are about 25-30 feet tall. They have red berries on them right now. The last one has black berries on them. I'll go try to get better pics.
Kimberlee
on Nov 17, 2012
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The dark berries in the 3rd pic make me think it's privet (ligustrum chinensis) - if so, it's very invasive. Privet has a rather small leaf, small white spring blooms that are extremely fragrant, evergreen foliage. Sounds like something you'd want but birds eat the berries and it comes up everywhere, including right up through desirable shrubs or blueberries, grows 6-10 ft per year in North Alabama. My husband pushed down some in some land he was clearing - he said they were 30 ft tall with trunks like trees instead of shrubs.
Ellen H
on Nov 17, 2012
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I am reasonably certain it is a Cherry Laurel, not sure which one though http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_laurocerasus
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Nov 17, 2012
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Here's some more pics for better identification. Ellen, I think you may be close on the privet. It is very invasive and even grows through concrete. Four Seasons, A type of Laurel may be right as well. I am still looking.
Kimberlee
on Nov 17, 2012
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mm it almost looks like two different plants. The one has opposite leaves vs alternate (the third pic) the first one looks alternate.hard to tell. If opposite is probably the privet because Cherry Laurel has alternate leaves.
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Nov 17, 2012
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the first and third "specimen" are two different plants. I just can't identify either. Sorry for the confusion.
Kimberlee
on Nov 17, 2012
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3rd one is privet. Get rid of it if you can.
Ellen H
on Nov 17, 2012
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@Kimberlee We have a cheyenne privet that looks quite similar to this. Here (Ottawa Canada) we use it as a privacy hedge, but it does need regular trimming. We enjoy the privacy it gives it from our neighbours. Their deck is lower than ours and I always felt like we were over looking them before we grew it to 7 feet. It is healthy - with bone meal fertilizer annually, but it does require maintenance. When it gets too wide we either take some stalks out or just hack it back with the trimmers. The other leaf looks very familiar, will check some of my ideas and get back to you.
Gail Salminen
on Nov 17, 2012
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I think you guys are totally right about the Privet. I will be taking a saw to it soon! It is very invasive.Thank you all!!
Kimberlee
on Nov 18, 2012
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Does the first specimen look like a type of rhododendron? I am still researching it. I honestly can't remember if flowers in the spring. I will have to watch it this year. But it definitely has the red "fruit" as pictured above.
Kimberlee
on Nov 18, 2012
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@Kimberlee - I would to tend to agree with your assessment of rhododendron. I can grow quite tall and there are a lot of varieties. Here is what wiki has to say about it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhododendron
Gail Salminen
on Nov 18, 2012
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A rhododendron wouldn't have berries.
Douglas Hunt
on Nov 19, 2012
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Oh!!! Well then. I'm back to square one!! LOLOLOL I haven't a clue. The leaves are kinda in a "spoke" pattern. I'm not sure if that word is even used in plant descriptions. Any ideas?
Kimberlee
on Nov 19, 2012
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Four Season's suggestion of a cherry laurel is a possibility. Any sign of those red berries turning black?
Douglas Hunt
on Nov 19, 2012
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I'll go check and let you know. BBS.
Kimberlee
on Nov 19, 2012
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I believe they may be Bayberry. (Myrica) They are invasive as the will grow from rhizomes and spread. They are a deer resistant plant due to the fragrant leaves. The berries can be from grey to blue to purple depending on the variety. They are related to myrtles. The berries have medicinal uses
Ponds Patios and Waterfalls Co.
on Nov 19, 2012
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The middle picture could be Ligustrum (privet) or Kalmia Latifolia (mountain laurel) hard to distinguish from the picture.
Ponds Patios and Waterfalls Co.
on Nov 19, 2012
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I looked all over the trees and didn't see any black berries. :( Maybe the red ones will turn black. I am not sure. I'll let you know.
Kimberlee
on Nov 19, 2012
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I think: <Ponds Patios and Waterfal... Manchester, MD The middle picture could be ~~ or Kalmia Latifolia (mountain laurel)> : has the correct ID with Kalmia latifolia, but here's a link to see if that is it...Which it is worth keeping if it is...IMO, http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/k/kallat/kallat1.html
The Blooming Gardener
on Nov 19, 2012
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@Kimberlee and @Douglas Hunt - I am not an expert in this area. I have never seen berries on a rhododendron, but I was curious and went trolling the net LOL This may just be a case of mistaken identity by the photographer, but here is a site that depicts the berries, they seem quite firm like those of the holly plant, so not sure. Maybe @Douglas Hunt can differentiate?? http://snapt.abul.us/Project365/2011/04/07/365-day-photo-project-day-342-ripe-red-rhododendron-berries/
Gail Salminen
on Nov 20, 2012
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I think the photographer has it wrong. I'm hardly a rhododendron expert, but I have never seen berries on one. Mountain laurel is an interesting suggestion. I never think of that below the north Georgia mountains, but that doesn't mean someone couldn't have successfully planted them. If so, there would have been a memorable show of flowers in the spring, and they would definitely be worth keeping.
Douglas Hunt
on Nov 20, 2012
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sorry for the confusion. but since spring is slowly springing I've been informed the first two pics are Red Tipped Photinia. a basic shrub that, for me, has grown into an awesome tree. I like cool trunks! ;-) thanks everyone.
Kimberlee
on Apr 06, 2013
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Be vigilant about keeping an eye out for fungal leaf spot.
Douglas Hunt
on Apr 06, 2013
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is there a way to prevent it?
Kimberlee
on Apr 06, 2013
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I think the middle one is a magnolia tree
Meagan Gramlich
on Apr 08, 2013
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You're better off if that is a single plant than if it's in a hedge, Kimberee, because good air circulation is key. Make sure there is no overhead irrigation around the tree. Consider a regular spray program using copper sulphate.
Douglas Hunt
on Apr 08, 2013
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