What is this bush/tree/plant?

[gentlegreen]

Yep - I see now - just bracts.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-beta&hs=26p&rls=org.mozilla:en-GBfficial&biw=1405&bih=855&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=hornbeam++bracts&oq=hornbeam++bracts&gs_l=img.3...17159.19090.0.19523.8.8.0.0.0.0.80.503.8.8.0....0...1c.1.64.img..3.5.300.by9qPZlS1M4

so different from the normal leaf form

 

[bi0boy]

This randomly appeared in my garden

 

[gentlegreen]

nicotiana

tobacco

 

[BoatieBird]

Looks like Nicotiana bi0boy - if it is then it'll won't have any fragrance during the day but will smell wonderful in the evening.

 

[gentlegreen]

I grow two varieties .. it might be affinis - or it could be sanderae ...
Everyone should grow it, but you'll be very lucky to grow it two years in succession because of downy mildew

 

[tim]

It looks like a laurel to me.

I think you'll find it's a hardy.

 

[Ponyutd]

 

[gentlegreen]

The first of several - Bath Botanic garden's labelling is appalling ...

But this first one was in a private garden.
My phone camera can't do justice to the deep blue of the flowers and the dark brown stems...

 

[Callie]

Salvia innit?

 

[gentlegreen]

oh yes - I can see that might fit ...

or some sort of lobelia ...

 

[Artaxerxes]

Just need to check, are these Damsons? Because there are literally hundreds of these bushes everywhere around mine.

 

[BoatieBird]

They do look like Damsons Artaxerxes.
It's easy to confuse damsons with sloes, but sloe bushes have large, sharp thorns and damsons don't.

 

[gentlegreen]

And at least the worst you'll get is a sour taste ..

 

[StoneRoad]

Pick one Artaxerxes and have a look at the pip/stone and the pulp. Sloes taste extremely sour. IIRC damson stones look like small plum stones ie slightly flattened, a bit like almonds.
They do look like damsons, though. As BoatieBird says, sloes have large thorns.

 

[gentlegreen]

 

[two sheds]

Just need to check, are these Damsons? Because there are literally hundreds of these bushes everywhere around mine.

View attachment 76312

Yes look like Damsons. They do have thorns but not as evil as sloes. Not as incredibly bitter as sloes, too. I've got a few trees and they look loaded this year.

Damson port yum.

 

[ringo]

What's this stripey grass?

 

[trabuquera]

Miscanthus sinensis. Popular with the architectural plants lots as well as grass fanatics. Needs a bit of care though. (I had a cherished one in a pot and it died after 5yrs or so )

 

[ringo]

Miscanthus sinensis. Popular with the architectural plants lots as well as grass fanatics. Needs a bit of care though. (I had a cherished one in a pot and it died after 5yrs or so )

Nice one, I'm guessing this is the zebra grass variety. There's a nice one at my daughter's school.
Looks to be quite tidily clumping too, so would fit in a couple of spots without taking over, reckon it would go nicely with my bamboos and ferns

 

[trabuquera]

I'd recommend it - looks nice in any weather and it doesn't (usually) die off completely in winter - you can just trim off the manky bits. Mine might have died of natural causes (I am not sure if it's one of those grasses which only last a few years in any conditions) or maybe it needed more food (I never fed it anything and never cloched/coldframed/sheltered it either). But it definitely doesn't need special soil or endless attention.

 

[ringo]

Miscanthus sinensis. Popular with the architectural plants lots as well as grass fanatics. Needs a bit of care though. (I had a cherished one in a pot and it died after 5yrs or so )

Just ordered two. I have an ugly bit of wall/fence on part of one side of my decking. Reckon if I put them in two long and thin but deep planters they'll cover it nicely. I've put a big bamboo in another corner too instead of having them all down the end of the garden because they shield a distant neighbour's window and move really beautifully in the wind.

 

[Sirena]

Can I repost a question that a friend of a friend has asked?

Anyone know the answer to this (below)? It's been bugging me for years! I've just asked the Natural History Museum team who are going to get back to me, but meantime one of you might know!

My question is....
Common Holly (Ilex Aquafolium) produce spiny leaves, but only lower down, below the ‘graze line’. Clearly these spines are a protection against predation, and the plant ceases to produce them higher up where there is no longer a threat.

My question is: what advantage is it to the plant, to cease producing spines?, OR, I suppose; what disadvantage is it to the plant to produce spines in the first place?

I’m guessing that either it takes more energy to produce leaves with spines so the plant only produces them where necessary. Or that without spines, the leaves have a smoother, flatter leaf surface which can photosynthesise more efficiently, so the plant begins to produce more energy as soon as it’s safe to do so.

Or is there another reason altogether!

As far as I’m aware, Holly is the only British plant that changes its defensive armour according to circumstance. Are there any others?

 

[lizzieloo]

I'm clearing an area in my garden that had become a bit overgrown and found this plant growing in pretty deep shade, I thought it might be lords-and-ladies but the leaves seem a bit too round...

^^Leaf on the left is a hellebore, nowt to do with it

 

[StoneRoad]

Lords and Ladies (Arum maculatum) would be my guess. although I agree the leaves don't look pointed enough. (just checked my copy of keble-martin) but it could be a sport in that respect, but the ears back around the stem look right.
Leave 'em and see what the flowers look like !

 

[gentlegreen]

And definitely don't use them in a salad until you're certain

 

[lizzieloo]

Lords and Ladies (Arum maculatum) would be my guess. although I agree the leaves don't look pointed enough. (just checked my copy of keble-martin) but it could be a sport in that respect, but the ears back around the stem look right.
Leave 'em and see what the flowers look like !

I'm gonna have to move it because now I've cleared the mahonia it was growing under it'll be far to light and dry

 

[ringo]

Some sort of grass? Moves like bamboo in the wind but has feather like leaves. In the garden of a stately home on telly.

 

[lizzieloo]

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW!

 

[lizzieloo]

Stipa gigantea ringo I watched AR too so I knew which gardens to look in

 

[ringo]

Thanks lizzieloo , my favourite programme

I'll have to look them up, have a nice spot for one of these