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Please help identify "plants" in (Southern) New England 3 of 3

4 years ago

Please let me know what the following plant is? Is it native to Southern New England? What are its benefits? What are its downsides? How do you get rid of it permanently without using poison in the ground if one should get rid of it?

Seems to grow straight and narrow at least at first. I have no idea what it turns into or anything about its root structure.

Featured Answer

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

I can't quite make out how the leaves are arranged. If they're opposite I'd say it was one of the Viburnums. If you don't get a better answer here there is a dedicated id forum here on Gardenweb Name That Plant Forum

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Comments (6)

NHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years ago
Can you take a photo from the side? If a Viburnum, some are native and some aren’t. In general, most aren’t invasive in New England, even if nonnative, and most are medium to large bushes. I would just let this one grow for now. In a week or two when the leaves are fully opened, take another photo from the side.
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red pinkie
Original Author
4 years ago
@NHBabs z4b-5a NH So here are some more photos of it (including a photo from the side) with a few more observations. It grows in all sorts of conditions -- it grows in steady shade, it grows in the direct sun, and it grows in spots that are partly shaded. It grows in groups and it can grow singularly.

It may be more like a shrub because I have found a few instances where it is 9-11 feet tall (does it turn into a tree???). It seems to produce a flower within the past couple of weeks (see photo below). In addition to this plant's name, I'm curious what's the maximum height it can reach and besides its name, Is it native to Southern New England? What are its benefits? What are its downsides? Do you recommend keeping it or getting rid of it (in all or some instances because I'm seeing it more and more)?

How do you recommend getting rid of it permanently (only using poison as a last resort)?

What's this? · More Info

What's this? · More Info

What's this? · More Info
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
It is a Viburnum, which most consider to be a valuable/desirable plant. If growing in untended woods, I'd guess Viburnum dentatum but I am not all that familiar with all the eastern US native species. Garden benefits include spring flowers (sometimes very fragrant), edible fruit that the birds and other wildlife love and typically great fall color.

Could get as tall as 15' or so but more often in the 6-10' range and with a similar width.
red pinkie thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years ago
I second GG48’s likely ID and that it is a desirable plant. Flowers in spring, summer berries, and red autumn color. I love my Viburnums, both the native and non natives.
red pinkie thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years ago
And for removal of invasives (which this isn’t), I use large adjustable pliers to pull ones that are smaller. The looser the soil, the larger the plant you can pull. For large ones there a few choices:

- Get a weed wrench or similar tool to pull midsized plants.

https://www.theuprooter.com/tool-features/weed-wrench-alternative/

- Cut to ground level and then revisit each plant about every other week for a couple of seasons to remove all new sprouts so the roots use up all stored energy. This takes both consistency and persistence because if leaves get a chance to form the plant will start making and storing energy again.

- Cut to ground level and then paint the cut with a short lived brush strength herbicide. I use this option along with the first because I live on 200 acres and it is my only hope of decreasing my invasives. I like it as the lesser of two evils because it is very targeted to individual plants, and it uses the least possible amount. I do recheck certain invasives even after this treatment once because sometimes buckthorn repsprouts, but IME recutting will kill it.
red pinkie thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH

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