What is the most attractive bush/shrub in the wurld?

in_my_wellies

I have that and agree the flowers smell of cat pee and gave my late husband hay fever like no other plant.
I don't have a problem with suckering but it does spread out of line by layering. It grows in a thin, straggly fashion compared to the more usual privet hedge. I'm gradually replacing it with hawthorn and a strong variety of privet

Woolsery

in_my_wellies said:

I don't have a problem with suckering but it does spread out of line by layering.

Yes mine may well have layered itself too rather than suckered, but the result was much the same.

ka7e

I have the variegated privet and it flowered last summer when I left it too long between trims. The white flowers smelt like lilac and I actually had sprigs in a vase in my kitchen.

Bendy_House

So, cat pee = lilac?

I'm looking forward to seeing what it does this year.

Farway

ka7e said:

I have the variegated privet and it flowered last summer when I left it too long between trims. The white flowers smelt like lilac and I actually had sprigs in a vase in my kitchen.

I like the smell of priviet blossom as well and did wonder what posters were on about with cat pee pong.

I wonder if there are two types of privet? Like elderflowers, some smell yummy like elderflowers should but some a very much cat pee

freyasmum

They can get quite big, but I have a variegated photinia which has pink and marbled leaves. It's very pretty - mine is against a fence which should have been sage green, but which has actually turned out light blue (ronseal did not, in fact, do exactly what it said on the tin).

Woolsery

freyasmum said:

They can get quite big, but I have a variegated photinia which has pink and marbled leaves. It's very pretty

I've been trying to strike 3 cuttings of that since winter 2020 when I found them in a tree surgeon's trailer. One just might be gaining some roots now, but hard to say.... It can get big and if Bendy wants one, I suggest he just buys it!!

freyasmum

Woolsery said:

freyasmum said:

They can get quite big, but I have a variegated photinia which has pink and marbled leaves. It's very pretty

I've been trying to strike 3 cuttings of that since winter 2020 when I found them in a tree surgeon's trailer. One just might be gaining some roots now, but hard to say.... It can get big and if Bendy wants one, I suggest he just buys it!!

Oooh, that's not good! I was hoping to take a cutting for another area of my garden - I wonder if Summer might be a better time to try?

I'm sure Mr FM will be delighted about another trip to a garden centre! 

in_my_wellies

Farway said:

ka7e said:

I have the variegated privet and it flowered last summer when I left it too long between trims. The white flowers smelt like lilac and I actually had sprigs in a vase in my kitchen.

I like the smell of priviet blossom as well and did wonder what posters were on about with cat pee pong.

I wonder if there are two types of privet? Like elderflowers, some smell yummy like elderflowers should but some a very much cat pee

That's intertesting. I dislike the smell of my elderberry flowers but my daughter always said it didn't smell. Then she caught covid and now complains it smell of cat pee - flowers and branches. 

Farway

in_my_wellies said:

Farway said:

ka7e said:

I have the variegated privet and it flowered last summer when I left it too long between trims. The white flowers smelt like lilac and I actually had sprigs in a vase in my kitchen.

I like the smell of priviet blossom as well and did wonder what posters were on about with cat pee pong.

I wonder if there are two types of privet? Like elderflowers, some smell yummy like elderflowers should but some a very much cat pee

That's intertesting. I dislike the smell of my elderberry flowers but my daughter always said it didn't smell. Then she caught covid and now complains it smell of cat pee - flowers and branches. 

I found out about different types in my wine making days when elderflower selection is critical, unless making lager in which case cat's pee will do just fine