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Avatar for keithp2012
Jun 9, 2016 12:14 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
I have this huge evergreen shrub that gets tiny flowers every late spring and the shrub grows like a weed, but never gets berries or seeds. What is it?
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Jun 9, 2016 1:40 PM CST
Name: Tara
NE. FL. (Zone 9a)
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Reminds me of a Viburnum, maybe V. tinus, but I'm surprised you never see berries.
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Jun 9, 2016 2:44 PM CST
Name: Jean
Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a)
Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier The WITWIT Badge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Sages
I thought Viburnum until I clicked on the picture. Keith's plant has 4 petal blooms, Viburnum tinus flowers have 5 petals. The leaves on Keith's plant appear to be slightly crenelated and the Viburnum's are entire (smooth).

http://www.botanicaplantnurser...
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Jun 9, 2016 3:13 PM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
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Maybe a variety of Ligustrum?? http://garden.org/plants/searc...
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


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Jun 9, 2016 3:29 PM CST
Name: Jean
Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a)
Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier The WITWIT Badge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Sages
What do you think about one of the Osmanthus species?

https://www.google.com/webhp?s...
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Jun 9, 2016 3:49 PM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Birds Butterflies Bee Lover Hummingbirder Container Gardener
Moonhowl said:What do you think about one of the Osmanthus species?

https://www.google.com/webhp?s...

It does look like Osmanthus, wonder if the blooms are fragrant? We have some listed in our database with photos for comparison: http://garden.org/plants/searc...
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


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Jun 9, 2016 4:20 PM CST
Name: Janet Super Sleuth
Near Lincoln UK
Bee Lover Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Dragonflies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
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Avatar for keithp2012
Jun 9, 2016 9:19 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
plantladylin said:Maybe a variety of Ligustrum?? http://garden.org/plants/searc...


I have privet and they aren't evergreens. Plus it would get berries and it doesn't.
Avatar for keithp2012
Jun 9, 2016 9:20 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
plantladylin said:
It does look like Osmanthus, wonder if the blooms are fragrant? We have some listed in our database with photos for comparison: http://garden.org/plants/searc...



There is some fragrance.
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Jun 9, 2016 9:22 PM CST
Name: Janet Super Sleuth
Near Lincoln UK
Bee Lover Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Dragonflies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
Cat Lover Garden Photography Butterflies Birds Spiders!
JRsbugs said:Ilex crenata?

https://www.google.co.uk/searc...
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Jun 9, 2016 9:36 PM CST
Name: John
Scott County, KY (Zone 5b)
You can't have too many viburnums..
Region: United States of America Region: Kentucky Farmer Cat Lover Birds Bee Lover
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Can't be a Viburnum, Privet, or Osmanthus, as those genera have opposite arrangement of leaves. This plant has alternate arrangement of its simple leaves.

One would better identify this plant as a MALE Ilex crenata - Japanese Holly. Note the staminate flowers, which only produce pollen.

You'll need a female Japanese Holly in order to see fruit form, and then they'll be relatively unnoticed and black in color.

NOTE: it is much easier to identify plants like this if you start with a picture of the WHOLE plant, and then zoom in to show the finer details.
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Jun 9, 2016 9:48 PM CST
Name: Leslieray Hurlburt
Sacramento California (Zone 9b)
The WITWIT Badge Region: California Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Xeriscape Native Plants and Wildflowers Salvias
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Those crenate leaves.....Ilex crenata looks exactly right Janet.
Hamilton Square Garden, Historic City Cemetery, Sacramento California.
Avatar for keithp2012
Jun 9, 2016 11:39 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
JRsbugs said:Ilex crenata?

https://www.google.co.uk/searc...


You are right! Too bad mine isn't female it would literally have thousands and thousands of berries on it, my shrub is almost 20 feet wide and 5 foot tall!
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Jun 10, 2016 5:59 AM CST
Name: Janet Super Sleuth
Near Lincoln UK
Bee Lover Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Dragonflies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
Cat Lover Garden Photography Butterflies Birds Spiders!
You might have had a job fitting in a close enough photo of a shrub 20 feet wide!

It is a pity you don't get berries, unless you have another space 20 feet wide for a female plant? Cut back some of the male to make space for a female? You would presumably have to buy a plant in flower to know it was female.

It must provide a good place for birds to nest?
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