No chance it’s just ivy?

Can you show us the whole plant?

I'd be very surprised if it is.

I didn't get a pic as it was pouring with rain.

I will get a photo tomorrow, as long as Gabriel isn't tickling the Angels

When you do go back can you photograph and measure a petiole and snap stem and nodes? Thanks!

No prob, Jay

I thought ivy as well. If it is a woody plant, it could be it was rooted to grow as a shrub and not a vine.

I've seen a variegated variety sold like that.

Ken. I wouldn't expect Liquidamber to still be holding green leaves at the end of Jan. and it has no scent.

Let's see what I get tomorrow.

Brachychiton?

Interesting suggestion.

The texture is right. The only ones I am familiar with are B. acerifolius & B. rupestris.

Definately not either of them.

B.populneus.

I didn’t think of that because I’ve never seen that species in the U.K. (too cold) but it‘s possible that there might be some in Cornwall. Being only a foot high could be the result of repeated winter die back. I’ve found local authority parks departments to be helpful with requests so maybe you could ask them?

Well, the Gold Medal goes to shaxhome.

Popped down but I could not find it again, BUT, I did find another one. The original was only about 1' with a single trunk, but this one is 3' and with a divided trunk.

Definately B.populneus. Thank you, honourable sahib, Sir.

Much more typical leaf

Petiole about 3" long

Swollen junction of leaf and petiole

Swollen trunk starting to develop.

I failed to spot the original one because

a) the gardens stretch along approx 1000m, of fore shore with beds 2 or 3 deep.

b) I kept getting distracted by other things starting to do their thing, like :-

these gorgeous little Narcissi, only 6" high.

and this stick insect, "hiding" on a Phormium. An Unarmed Stick-insect (Acanthoxyla inermis) I think

floral

I didn't consider this genus but it should be hardy, certainly in Cornwall but hardy and soaking wet??? That might be another matter.

These might be 'ideally' located, as they are in King George V Memorial Walk, Hayle which is only 6m from the edge of a tidal basin.

I thought of Brachychiton right off but since no plant location information was given other than the poster being in UK...

Also I would have had to check to see if these were possible even in the southwest of Britain.

Embothrium.

No fret. I always (I think) give the plant's location, if not here.

Having lived in Aus, and having seen it in the wild, but only as large specimens, I would say that it could. SW UK, as floral once said, is a bit like a tropical rainforest, but without the tropical bit. :-))

Ah, Hayle, where my grandfather nearly drowned in the current and great granny lies in the churchyard.

No wonder there’s a frost free climate. But stick insects? That’s amazing. There are no native species here. But I found this https://www.buglife.org.uk/bugs/bug-directory/stick-insects/

Your daffs might be tete a tête-à-tête. They flower early and I find that after a while in the open garden they lose their habit of producing twin flowers.

I've been to Cornwall and already knew about conditions there long before I went. With the Scilly Isles being even more affected by the Gulf Stream, Tresco Abbey known for growing and displaying plants like might otherwise be seen in Santa Barbara.

But when most apt responses are preferred from the start it is always best to state where a specimen being asked about is located with each new thread. With where a poster is located not necessarily being where the plant was seen.

In addition to showing as many different parts of each mystery as possible.

There appears to be an Oz plant theme in that garden. Fairly confident that the red-flowering bush in top left corner of your first pic is a Grevillea rosmarinifolia...

shaxhome.

Not just Oz, but from just about all corners of the globe.

As far as I am able to say, with my limited knowledge, is that the only family not represented is the Cactaceae.

I have no idea who actually is responsible for the gardens. I have met one guy, a couple of times, who is a part time volunteer. I've never seen anyone else there doing anything.

Maybe it is looked after by the local piskies.

I think the Town Council runs it. Whether any piskies hold elected office I can’t say.

floral

FYI

Naturalised Stick-insects

Sorry, I can’t access that link because it takes me to Gmail. But I did post this https://www.buglife.org.uk/bugs/bug-directory/stick-insects/ earlier.

Sorry about that floral.

Try this one

The Naturalised British Stick Insects

Fascinating. Never seen one myself. Did you report it?

I did. The previous link I gave, was to the information that Malcolm sent me.

Same information, just a different format.

If I manage to catch one, would you like it? :-)))

Very kind of you but I don’t think I can cope with the responsibility. 😉

A stick insect in February in the UK? Must be in the mildest area...