Plant name

ceh · Post by **ceh** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:47 pm

Can anyone tell me the name of the shrub often used as hedging, particularly at the front of properties. It has shiny green leaves and small white flowers. I am told that it is easy to take cuttings and grow from existing plants.

thanks

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:29 pm

Hi Ceh,
from your description of shiny foliage it could be Choisya ternata (the Mexican orange blossom) are the white flowers fragrant?These blossom from early spring there,theres one called 'Aztec pearl'
you can take softwood or semi-ripe cuttings.
or possibly a Viburnum?There is one called suspensum that has small white flowers(lightly tinged with pink) also fragrant.From evergreen ones, you can take semi-ripe cuttings,
But maybe its not either....will have to get my thinking cap on with this one....

ceh · Post by **ceh** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:36 pm

Thanks Ellie for your reply.

The property I've recently bought has this plant all along the front behind a wall and I'd like to be able to give it a name. I've bought a book on Mediterranean gardening but can't find it in the book.......

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 6:07 pm

Choisya Ternata

Aztec Pearl

Viburnum Suspensum

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 11:29 am

Think you are referring to Portugal Laurel, Prunus lusitanica, which is known locally as "miopores" or "mioporum". Although rarely seen in the UK it is hardy, and even has an RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Barry

ceh · Post by **ceh** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 7:22 pm

Thanks for the replies - I think it is probably Prunus lusitania as it is a bit like laurel but may be Choisya ternata. We will be at the villa at the end of the week (hurrah) so will check it out against the pictures/suggestions.

Caroline

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:27 pm

Barry wrote:Think you are referring to Portugal Laurel, Prunus lusitanica, which is known locally as "miopores" or "mioporum". Although rarely seen in the UK it is hardy, and even has an RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Barry

Yes you're right Barry, it is hardy, I have this evergreen in my front garden....you can take sem-ripe cuttings Ceh

Pics are great Jeremy!

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 4:25 pm

Hi Ellie,
Have assumed that it is easy to take cuttings since it is very inexpensive. A small plant will set you back about 75 cents in the local Portugese garden centres. I bought a few in the autumn to patch up holes in our hedges, and they have taken very rapidly.
Barry

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 5:12 pm

Barry wrote:Hi Ellie,
Have assumed that it is easy to take cuttings since it is very inexpensive. A small plant will set you back about 75 cents in the local Portugese garden centres. I bought a few in the autumn to patch up holes in our hedges, and they have taken very rapidly.
Barry

Hiya Barry,
Blimey, thats very cheap !

D'you know,I can't remember how long Ive had this one(reckon they must grow lot quicker out there?) and have to be honest and say that Ive never taken any cuttings from this plant but maybe I will try this year.

I was sitting in front garden earlier (nice & sunny here today) and its got loadsa flowers on it.
According to me RHS book, it recommends 'heal cuttings' or 4 to 6 inch cuttings from leader or side shoots late summer/autumn.
D'you reckon that would be same in Algarve? or maybe earlier?
I bet your hedge looks good when in flower?

cheers ellie

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:01 am

Prunus Lusitancia

ceh · Post by **ceh** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:39 pm

Thanks Ellie, Barry and Jeremy for your replies.

The person who used to look after the keys to the property told us, after we'd pruned the very overgrown 'hedge' that we could take cuttings etc. but as she's Swedish we got stuck with the language.

The plan is to extend the hedge and now I know what it is, I can check out how best to do so.

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:11 pm

In reply to Ellie, the small plants are available late Autumn, so probably from cuttings taken late summer, early Autumn. The only problem in Portugal is that the gardeners usually cut the hedges back so hard that they rarely have a chance to flower. We passed an unkempt hedge while walking at the weekend and it was "miopores" in full flower. The scent was so strong that at first I thought it was choisia. We're letting our hedge run to flower before cutting it this year, and it looks much more natural.
Keep gardening

Barry

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 4:45 pm

Barry wrote:In reply to Ellie, the small plants are available late Autumn, so probably from cuttings taken late summer, early Autumn. The only problem in Portugal is that the gardeners usually cut the hedges back so hard that they rarely have a chance to flower. We passed an unkempt hedge while walking at the weekend and it was "miopores" in full flower. The scent was so strong that at first I thought it was choisia. We're letting our hedge run to flower before cutting it this year, and it looks much more natural.
Keep gardening
Barry

Thank-you for that Barry

Thats what annoys me here ( hedge cutting)..the local council come around chopping back hedgerows usually just as the birds start nesting!

and regarding Portuguese cutting hedge back so hard..I remember this happening in the garden I worked (near Porches).....but it was the local authorities, they came along & chopped back a flourishing beautiful hedge there one day (from the road side)..
and when I arrived to do the lawns etc, I found I could 'see right through'! They'd murdered it!

My Portuguese friends never understood my passion for plants & flowers and were only interested in growing veg

would love to see your hedge!
ellie

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:35 am

Hi Ellie,
Sorry to the rest if this is becoming a dialogue, but sounds like we're both keen gardeners. I think the severe cutting back is to reduce the number of times a hedge needs cutting. Our previous Portugese gardener had the same approach with grass. He would take all the green growth off the lawn, and leave it brown. But it wouldn't need cutting for some weeks! He's now gone, and I have a flexible arrangement with a German gardener who looks after the place when we are back in the UK. Means I have had to buy a lawn mower, but at least I have green grass. We now take much more interest in the Portugese garden and have planted about a dozen trees and shrubs over the last Autumn/Winter. But you are right, our Portugese neighbours must think we're mad. They don't understand gardening as a leisure activity

Barry