Flowering Shrub ID, Please...

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andy10917
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Flowering Shrub ID, Please...

Post by andy10917 » July 18th, 2019, 3:51 pm

All are welcomed to ID this shrub, but I'm betting on TIMMYG to be the one - I recently stole the show recently when I ID'ed my own request just minutes before he got it, but here's the chance to even the score.

This shrub is quite tall at 11' - 12', and is currently in bloom on Long Beach Island, NJ. We don't see this much my way up in the colder Downstate NY area (Zone 6a, but close to 5b). I'm guessing it's a member of the Buddleia family...

Image

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The Boss wants one if they'll grow in our area, and "happy wife, happy life", yada, yada...

TimmyG
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Re: Flowering Shrub ID, Please...

Post by TimmyG » July 18th, 2019, 10:36 pm

Wow, so many hours and no takers? Forgive me, Andy, I only just got back online.

You're looking at a Vitex agnus-castus or chaste tree. Hardiness is sketchy in zone 6a. Some sites, even Monrovia, claim hardiness to zone 5, but I think they're full of it. I've never seen a Vitex remotely close to here. We're also on that 5b/6a border. Believe you me, I would have tried it here if I had any confidence. From what I understand, survival here would require winter protection, which is beyond my interest in a plant that grows so large.

In a way, it would be like growing a butterfly bush. Missouri Botanical Garden says:
Best grown in loose, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Plant in sheltered locations north of USDA Zone 7. In USDA Zones 5 and 6, this shrub often suffers winter dieback or dies to the ground. It is not considered reliably winter hardy throughout USDA Zone 5. Even though plants may die to the ground in Zone 5-6 winters, the roots often survive the winter and push up as much a 4-7' of new growth the following year. Because flowering appears on new growth, winter dieback or pruning back to the ground will not affect flowering.
But do read up on it. You may be able to pull it off.

TimmyG
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Re: Flowering Shrub ID, Please...

Post by TimmyG » July 18th, 2019, 10:47 pm

Maybe I will have to try one if I could ever find one for sale around here. Posts on Dave's Garden are quite positive for zone 5b. In particular, I value the knowledge and experience of member coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA.

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andy10917
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Re: Flowering Shrub ID, Please...

Post by andy10917 » July 19th, 2019, 8:03 am

Thanks, Timmy! I'll follow up with the Dave's Garden link (I'm a member there), but my Fall lawn tasks keep me so busy that I fear I'd lapse on getting such a large shrub properly protected.

I did compare to Chaste Tree photos, and dismissed it for reasons I don't remember. Glad I got a good ID.

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HoosierLawnGnome
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Re: Flowering Shrub ID, Please...

Post by HoosierLawnGnome » July 19th, 2019, 10:48 am

That is a huge butterfly bush. Popular around here.


TimmyG
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Re: Flowering Shrub ID, Please...

Post by TimmyG » July 19th, 2019, 10:51 am

HoosierLawnGnome wrote:
July 19th, 2019, 10:48 am
That is a huge butterfly bush. Popular around here.
Eh? It is not any species of Buddleia. Although no doubt it attracts a lot of butterflies.

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Re: Flowering Shrub ID, Please...

Post by deboy922 » July 19th, 2019, 1:38 pm

HoosierLawnGnome wrote:
July 19th, 2019, 10:48 am
That is a huge butterfly bush. Popular around here.
I initially thought butterfly bush also...but the one in the pic is so big. I have tried a couple of butterfly bushes, but they did not always make it through the winter.

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Re: Flowering Shrub ID, Please...

Post by TimmyG » July 19th, 2019, 3:39 pm

There are species of Buddleia that get bigger than this Vitex in the pictures, albeit not anywhere near Long Island. Think Florida. But you only have to look at the leaf structure in Andy's fantastic third photo to quickly rule out Buddleia.

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andy10917
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Re: Flowering Shrub ID, Please...

Post by andy10917 » July 19th, 2019, 3:53 pm

I didn't think anyone would figure out how I structure my "Please ID This" photos - I've found that one picture of the overall plant and structure, one of flowers and one of leaf pattern is the best mix to get a good ID...

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Re: Flowering Shrub ID, Please...

Post by HoosierLawnGnome » July 19th, 2019, 4:08 pm

TimmyG wrote:
July 19th, 2019, 10:51 am
HoosierLawnGnome wrote:
July 19th, 2019, 10:48 am
That is a huge butterfly bush. Popular around here.
Eh? It is not any species of Buddleia. Although no doubt it attracts a lot of butterflies.
Yeah I misread the earlier post. It looked so much like the flowers on a butterfly bush I've seen.

Very interesting shrub! Huge!

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