topic Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated. in Garden

Help identifying this would be appreciated.

esmeraldagooch — Tue, 06 May 2014 14:40:42 GMT

I moved to Georgia and have a plant in the garden I can't identify. It was bare when we moved in last fall and I did cut it down to 6 feet tall. The bark and leaves of this fountain shaped bush look similar to a butterfly bush but the leaves are smooth. I would appreciate any guesses so I can look this up. Sorry this computer won't let me post the photos and links don't work.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj169/Esmeraldagooch/DSCF0378_edited-1_zps5ee34649.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj169/Esmeraldagooch/DSCF0379_zpsae744c3b.jpg

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

JustJazzmom — Tue, 06 May 2014 14:54:15 GMT

The only thing that I think it is : Franklinia --native to Georgia as a tree-- yours look more like a bush or it could be a Stewartia (also usually a tree but yours looks like a bush). The other thing that bothers me is that the flower on the 2 trees I mentioned has 5 petals and yours has 4. Any flowers that have 5 petals on this plant you have?

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

JustJazzmom — Tue, 06 May 2014 14:54:50 GMT

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

esmeraldagooch — Tue, 06 May 2014 14:56:56 GMT

The flower is the size of a quarter and the petals are not soft , but ridged. The bush is pretty and it lives without a lot of water in amongst the hickory trees. All flowers that have opened only have 4 petals.

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

esmeraldagooch — Tue, 06 May 2014 14:57:25 GMT

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

Lovs2shop — Tue, 06 May 2014 14:57:50 GMT

I would take a piece to a good local garden center. They should be able to help you.

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

pistolino — Tue, 06 May 2014 15:50:25 GMT

Looks like a white flowering dogwood to me:

http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_cofl2.pdf

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

esmeraldagooch — Tue, 06 May 2014 15:56:24 GMT

The leaves don't look anything like a dogwood, but will look up to see if another version of dogwood has different leaves. Thank you for your help.

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

ChynnaBlue — Tue, 06 May 2014 16:17:16 GMT

I think Dogwood, too. But I think Lovs2Shop has an excellent idea - take a picture or a flower to a local garden center / nursery and ask there. I would try a smaller local place instead of a Home Depot or big box store.

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

JustJazzmom — Tue, 06 May 2014 18:24:54 GMT

Its not a dogwood, compare the leaves between her photo and photo of a dogwood.

ETAetals are different too from her photo to dogwood photo; the stamens (center of her photo) are clearly visible and the dogwood has bracts (modified leaves, their true flowers are in the center of those bracts).

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

inGeorgia — Wed, 07 May 2014 16:17:11 GMT

I'm in the Atlanta are, no idea what part of GA you are in... If you're near a Pike's Nursery they are usually helpful identifying plants. Or I would try a local nursery not a big box store. Looks like something in the dogwood family.

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

JustJazzmom — Wed, 07 May 2014 18:14:05 GMT

Do all the flowers have 4 petals or do they have 5? If they have 5, it might be a mountain stewartia or 'summer dogwood'.

Definitely take it to your local cooperative extension too for ID. Click on your county and contact them.

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

lulu2 — Wed, 07 May 2014 18:56:31 GMT

Google Mountain Stewartia and tons of images appear. There appear to be numerous varieties and yours could definitely be one.

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

JustJazzmom — Wed, 07 May 2014 18:58:54 GMT

Could it be a camellia? I'm wondering if camellias can have 4 petals? or only 5 and up?

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

seehorse — Wed, 07 May 2014 19:11:48 GMT

I think it's Mock Orange.

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

JustJazzmom — Wed, 07 May 2014 19:53:37 GMT

I'm in agreement with seahorse. I think it is too.

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

scotnovel — Wed, 07 May 2014 20:01:36 GMT

Is it very fragrant? It looks very much like something my MIL had that she called a Mock Orange tree which had a very fragrant almost citrusy smell - just flowers no fruit. Hers grew to be very large - around 9 - 10 feet wide and around 10 - 12 ft tall as I recall (when not pruned).

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

esmeraldagooch — Thu, 08 May 2014 16:02:21 GMT

see horse, That looks just like it. Even the blossoms before they open look like that. Thank you so much ladies.

Re: Help identifying this would be appreciated.

Madame Lorrraine — Thu, 08 May 2014 16:05:09 GMT

It's those shiny leaves that makes me, too, think it's a camellia.