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Name That Plant!

Need help identifying a VA native tree and shrub

10 years ago

Hey guys -
I need help identifying a Virginia native tree, and a shrub. I think both are excellent in terms of ornamental value, and I haven't been able to figure out what these two are concretely.

On the left is a full picture of the tree; it's about 30ft tall with multiple trunks, and the bark is completely smooth (resembling beech). Top right is a close-up of early buds forming on the tree. At the lower right, is the unknown shrub.

The tree forms white blossoms all over in late summer. The shrub does not bloom at all, but has amazing dark green shiny foliage. Both are growing naturally beside a drainage stream that eventually aggregates to a river.

Thanks!

This post was edited by river_city on Thu, Jul 4, 13 at 14:01

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Comments (2)

Iris GW
10 years ago
The shrub looks like Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia).

On the tree, could you show a single close up picture of that "bud" and a leaf? The bud looks like a beechnut forming ...
river_city
Original Author
10 years ago
I went in for a closer inspection in an attempt to grab a closer picture of a bud, then it's struck me... there's actually a "parasitically" attached bigleaf magnolia growing out the side of the tree.

So the main tree must definitely be a beech. I agree with the laurel assessment, but the validation confirms it.

Thanks again!
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