Name That Plant!Shrubs New England Gardening

shrub like a Jap Tree Lilac

8 years ago

a friend was in Arizona recently and saw a tree that reminded her of a childhood shrub that she grew up with around Boston. Unfortunately, she did not get a picture of the whole tree, just the blooms:

I commented that it looked like a Japanese Tree Lilac, but I know they grow around here too so not sure why her childhood shrub memory would be a mini form of Jap Tree Lilac.

Then yesterday she found a local shrub that she identified as the childhood memory shrub. Again, no picture of the whole plant. But here is a cutting:

The leaves do not quite look the same as her Arizona tree but similar. Do you know what this shrub could be?

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

The second is a Ligustrum.

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Comments (6)

carol23_gw
8 years ago
Syringa reticulata I believe.

http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Syringa+reticulata&mobile=close
WendyB 5A/MA
Original Author
8 years ago
yes, that is Jap Tree Lilac, but can it be a tree and a shrub???
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Embothrium
8 years ago
"Jap" is a pejorative.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
is the second the invasive privet????

ken
Jay 6a Chicago
8 years ago
Ken, Privets aren't invasive in my area, and I'm thinking there not a probem by you either. I have a couple gold ones that have been there for decades. I have never seen one seed germinate, and they have never spread by suckers. In the southeast totally different story. It's way beyond being called a nuisance. More like destroyer of nature. It's ability to adapt to different kinds of lighting has allowed it to take over millions of acres of once native forests. In low light situations it forms tall branches reaching for the sun while shading and killing all the natives. Of the 9 species of privet that are present in the south, all 9 of them are invasive. Clearing out these infestations is difficult. It's been already proven that if a privet thicket is completely cleared the native species can return and reestablish themselves.