Tree/brush identification help

[Maiden69]

Hi, I got this tree that I moved from the front of the house because we are in a new community and the deers kept eating it all the time. In its place I planted a blue point juniper and so far I haven't seen the deers back in my front yard. I cut all the branches that were chewed up and by the time I was done I didn't like what I had, so I pretty much chopped the thing down.

It is beginning to leaf out now and was wondering if you guys knew what kind of tree it is. I thought it is either a red photinia, but one of the builders says he thinks it may be a Japanese blueberry. I plan on either thread or approach graft that long whip on the lower portion of the chop (it is very flexible right now, or air layer it and then graft it. Now that is if it is worth something as a bonsai and it is not one of those species that are very hard to work on.

Thanks.

 

[cbroad]

A euonymus of some type maybe?

I think the red you're seeing in the leaves is from the environment and not a normal plant trait.

 

[sorce]

blueberry

@Leo in N E Illinois ?

Sorce

 

[Michael P]

It is not a blueberry or a photinia. I can't quite tell from the photos, but if the leaves are opposite it could be a euonymous. Was this planted by the builders? If so, it certainly a common nursery species. Send us more photos when the leaves are larger.

What ever it is, the trunk is potentially very cool.

 

[Forsoothe!]

A euonymus of some type maybe?

I think the red you're seeing in the leaves is from the environment and not a normal plant trait.

Not so, red, especially edges is a stage of chlorophyll development and is a species characteristic. So is yellow, chartreuse, apple green, etc.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Crape Myrtle.... just my guess... bark looks like ONE of the crape myrtles (and many other trees)... but the LEAVES.. look like a stressemyrtle.

I am MOST DEFINITELY wrong.. just a guess

 

[Maiden69]

Will send more pics later today. The leaves are like that when they first come out. Red edges, then turn solid dark green. Not a crape for sure. I have gone through a few local nurseries trying to ID the tree but haven’t been successful.

 

[cbroad]

Not so, red, especially edges is a stage of chlorophyll development and is a species characteristic. So is yellow, chartreuse, apple green, etc.

I'm aware of that, what I meant was the red I'm seeing doesn't necessarily strike me as a species' cultivated characteristic, but to an environmental stress causing this coloration (like cold temperatures).

It could very well be the plants normal trait, but the OP trying to identify it by it's red coloration could lead down the wrong path for an I.d.

We won't know what's what until the plant pushes more/better growth.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Sorry, that's backwards. The opposite is true. Your best chances for an ID is a local will be able to spot it out of the corner of an eye.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Well having opposite leaves rules out Elaeocarpus, Vaccinium, and Photinia.

Opposite leaves does mean Forsythia, Euonymus, and Lagerstroemia are possible. But it is not Forsythia, because every leaf would have a toothed, or serrated margin. It is not lagerstroemia, crape myrtle because the bark is all wrong. Euonymus is an "obvious" possibility, but again it is wrong for Euonymus, as they usually have fine teeth to the margin of the leaves. In the photos the leaves have smooth or entire leaf margins. So not a match.

You got an "Ellifino" - hell if I know.

I'm not that familiar with trees and shrubs used in Texas landscaping. Maybe someone local can tell you.

Key Traits =
opposite leaves
entire margins - meaning no teeth.
bark with lenticels

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

By the way, nice trunk to start with. I'd let it grow, it will back bud closer to the trunk and on the trunk this summer.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Could it be a “strawberry bush” Euonymus Americana(?)
I’ve also heard Atropurpurea called strawberry bush.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Could it be a “strawberry bush” Euonymus Americana(?)
I’ve also heard Atropurpurea called strawberry bush.

Nope... nevermind.

 

[cbroad]

rules out Elaeocarpus, Vaccinium, and Photinia.

I was thinking about it last night, and chindo viburnum will have similar coloration in the new growth, and found another species (I forget which but the cultivar name was 'copper top'). But at least in my area, deer usually don't mess with viburnums.

I think I can see very slight serrations in the leaves, so I'm not ruling out euonymus yet, plus they can have heavily lenticeled bark similar to the op's pics.

 

[HorseloverFat]

they can have heavily lenticeled bark similar to the op's pics.

Yes.. this is what made me double-back to the “Strawberry” Euonymus.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I'm still at 'Ellifino'

Mature leaves, maybe a flower, if we could get a flower or fruit (seed) that would cinch an ID.

 

[Maiden69]

I'm still at 'Ellifino'

Mature leaves, maybe a flower, if we could get a flower or fruit (seed) that would cinch an ID.

We will revisit this after spring. Here are a few more pictures of the leaves.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Oh my god! Are those punica leaves? That would explain the coloration... the bark is different....

 

[Forsoothe!]

Japanese Quince? What's the flower color?

 

[HENDO]

My best guesses are:
-Texas Persimmon
-some sort of Camellia
But the bark doesn't appear to be correct for either...