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Common name 'Hedge'??

20 years ago

My husband is complaining about allergies to a plant he calls simply "Hedge". I always understood that a hedge was a closely-spaced row of plants of any variety. He insists that "Hedge" is a specific plant. I can only find "hedge-hyssop" and "hedge false-bindweed", etc, none of which is growing in my yard.

Can anyone help? Thanks!

~Karen

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Comments (3)

goodhors
20 years ago
Up north here in Michigan, hedge refers to Osage Orange trees. They were commonly planted to grow new fenceposts and protect the fields from wind. Was a renewable crop source for the farmers. Many were planted during the 1930s for wind protection, prevent another dust bowl.

They can get fairly tall at 30ft, very tangled branches and trunks, if the rows are not kept cleaned up. Wood is very hard, resistant to rot when used as fenceposts. I can't remember if they have spikes. There is a large, green fruit produced in fall, so they probably flower in spring. Maybe the flowers produce pollen which irritates?
Iris GW
20 years ago
In the south, the name "hedge" is commonly given to Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense).

I wish everyone would be allergic to them so we could get rid of them. They are blooming now on roadsides everywhere.
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jeff_al
20 years ago
agree with ellen. "hedge" is privet in the south, or as is commonly said - "privet hedge".
i hate the plant but like the fragrance of the flowers.

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