Please help with identification

[eryk2kartman]

Hi All,

Last year during summer time there was some construction works near my house, i managed to save couple of plants, it was quite tall hedge, very small leaves.
Anyway so i pot them in mix of potting grit, perlite and some pine bark. Roots were damaged as i didnt dig them up, builders did that with a digger. So they are coming back now, makes me very happy but unfortunately i dont know what is it, can someone help please?

The one from first couple of photos is my favorite one, really like it, not sure who would i do from it i guess time will tell.

 

[TN_Jim]

That bark is pretty distinct.
Melaleuca sp.???

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Great to see photos from Ireland!

Sadly, I am going to be no help on the identification. It looks familiar... but I can't place it. Perhaps once the leaves elongate...

 

[eryk2kartman]

The bark flakes and peels off.
I this they are around 30 years old i would say, probably planted sometimes in 70s or early 80s, people are saying it was always there so that makes me feel even better, i saved some peace of history

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

The bark reminds me of fuchsia.
Even though they're not 'europe proof' yard plants, they have and still are being used as such. Some of them are hardier than the internet says they are.

 

[eryk2kartman]

I dont think is fuchsia, i have couple growing in the garden, 1 of them has similar bark but leaves are completely different.
If i remember correctly, this one creates seeds in pods, something like beans.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Now I know what it reminds me of... these trees in my neighbor's yard





(1) When you saw the roots, were the roots also "corky"?

(2) All of these trees we are looking at are Australian natives. I am assuming the area you got these from was planted with landscaping material (ie non-native species)?

 

[eryk2kartman]

hmm
I dont really know what "corky" roots looks like, they were sort of soft, yellowish.
Yes, they were planted as a hedge, maybe 2-3m max, sort of long shoots with branching starting around chest lvl.

 

[Starfox]

Seeds in pods rules out Melaleuca.

Does it flower?

 

[rodeolthr]

This looks like one of the small-leafed hebes. Do they grow in your area?

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

To me, it looks like Lonicera, not sure which one of the 80 species, but it looks a lot like Lonicera japonica.

 

[eryk2kartman]

Thanks guys,
I think it flowers yes, small white flowers.
It could be Lonicera or Hebe, i might go tomorrow where construction work was done and check if there are any other still alive plants, it could be planted somewhere else too.

 

[eryk2kartman]

I just did a bit of google research and i found this:
Lonicera is a genus of about 108 species of which many are climbers unsuitable for bonsai use. However, there are a number of shrubby honeysuckles / Lonicera that make excellent subjects for bonsai.
Shrubby Lonicera species include L. pileata and L. nitida which are both evergreen shrubs often used for hedging. It is their ability to regenerate from old wood and the minute size of their leaves that make these two honeysuckles such good species for use as bonsai. With sufficient growth in the ground both species develop heavy, thick trunks and have light, fawn coloured bark that peels off in strips revealing a smooth, light-coloured underbark. Both species produce insignificant flowers and purple berries.
Lonicera nitida is a bushy, evergreen shrub with paired ovate leaves to 1cm long, they are glossy, dark-green above, lighter beneath. Originally native to China where they reach around 3-4 metres with a 3metre spread. L.nitida has a number of varieties which carry differing coloured leaves including the widely available 'Baggesen's Gold' which has yellow and purple hues to its green leaves.

It kinda fits perfectly