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Name That Plant!

What is this flowering evergreen shrub and can I prune it?

13 years ago

I've inherited a yard that went completely untended for 20 years. These are growing along the entire back wall of our property:

{{gwi:199074}}

I know they are supposed to be bushes (not trees!). My question is, does anyone know what they are and, more importantly, will they fill in if I prune them? They are severely top-heavy and I need to cut them back quite a bit, but they don't strike me as the type of bushes that will come back nicely if I do.

{{gwi:199075}}

Any suggestions on how I might get them under control, or is my only option to tear them out and start with something new?

Comments (5)

Embothrium
13 years ago
How wide are the flowers (closer view would be good)? All I've seen like this is Australian tea tree, but it produces tiny leaves and small flowers.

I'd cut the redwood branches away from it and leave the shrub alone - it's quite arresting in flower, reducing its size would reduce the floral display.

Could be something rare.
flora_uk
13 years ago
Yes, it does look like Australian tea tree, Leptospermum. Maybe something on the lines of L. 'Red Damask'.

Here is a link that might be useful: Leptospermum
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You are definitely going for the right look for a foundation planting, namely a layered series of different textures with evergreen at the back. But I agree that a total of 5 feet from foundation out is not enough width to get that job done. You have enough sun to work with and you have a vision, so why not do it up right: expand the bed 3-4 feet, move the roses out a few feet, and then put in some spreading yew or a globe arborvitae-type thing about 2-3 feet out from the house. You'll have to trim the yew or whatever you put there, but it will give you the look you want. Yews are incredibly overplanted on the foundation, but for the back row of a layered planting, I think they work just fine. Put a low layer in front of the roses, maybe some Blue Star Juniper, then you can keep the layered thing going on during the winter. The Blue Star is fairly slow growing, (especially living on the east side), so don't expect it to fill in quickly. Instead, cough up the cash and plant several. If you think widening the bed is daunting, just lay down wet cardboard on the turf and cover with lots of mulch. Then cut out wide holes for your plantings. The grass will be long gone in a year. Boxwood could work against the foundation too, but it grows like molasses. Just my thoughts, based on having been in a similar situation. Get what you want the first time around, so you don't have to do it again later.
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Once again, a trip to a good local nursery should provide you with many choices, specially at this time of year when many of these places feature fall planting sales. You could consider a collection of dwarf conifers, which offer a wide array of shapes, sizes and foliage color. Broadleaf evergreens I particularly value for extremely low maintenance and all around good looks are Viburnum tinus 'Spring Bouquet', 'Newport Dwarf' escallonia, various nandinas, Cotoneaster glaucophylla, Euonymus japonicus var. microphylla (boxleaf euonymus - assorted variegated forms to chose from) and hebes, but there are scores of others. And there are many deciduous shrubs that offer stunning fall color or late season blooms. Most of these will not offer too much interest during winter but twig dogwoods are standouts and oakleaf hydrangeas generally hold their richly colored fall foliage well into winter.
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karyn1
13 years ago
I have no idea what it is but agree with bboy, trim back those redwood branches and leave the unknown alone. It's beautiful in bloom.
loribee2
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for solving the mystery of what these are. I've had trouble narrowing it down, despite the number of garden books I own. I do love these bushes, unfortunately, the previous owners never cut them back and they're now so top heavy that every decent storm breaks off some branches. So far, the ones the storms have broken haven't provided any new growth, which leaves me hesitant as to how much cutting back I can do without ending up with a hedge of bare trunks. What you see in this photo is only one of about 7 shrubs in total. I'm afraid they've become too dangerous to leave as is.

Now that I know what it is, however, I can start looking up information on how I might be able to prune them down to the proper shape. Unfortunately, my only other option is to take them out completely.

Thanks again for the help!
Embothrium
13 years ago
What they have is the proper shape for this shrub, except for the lean resulting from the crowding. Relieved of the overhanging branches, the one shown may even itself up over time.

Searching web for leptospermum pruning or similar should bring up at least some useful discussion. Libraries and book stores also have books on pruning, two good ones are The Pruning of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers (Timber Press) and The American Horticultural Society - Pruning & Training.

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