BLE in a planting box, Ellicott City Maryland, a couple months ago

2 months ago

last modified: 2 months ago

I feel like this is going to prove to be something obvious, but I sure didn't immediately recognize it. This was in early December before it got really cold, but I don't necessarily think it was something tender, per se...there wasn't any other evidence of 'temperennial' plantings. That being said, it's very subtropical looking to me, whatever it is, and I bet this winter did a doozy on anything looking like this, that was in a planting box!

If I go back to that part of MD in the next few weeks, which is possible, I mean to check it out...if it survived.

Update: I think I found them on streetview, they were planted as of 2018, but smaller and less filled-in looking. So they are zone 7 hardy. But because it's technically someone's private garden (they just happen to live along a very public street), I don't want to post that link. Also, I am reminded the boxes, as I remembered them, were in fact raised beds made of brick. Still colder than being planted in open ground, of course.

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Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A

last month

last modified: last month

" I'll just say here: this winter had the worst amounts of damage proportional to the total amount of trees and shrubs in my garden...but...much better survival percentage than the polar vortex winters. Both because I am smarter about how to plant certain things, and because I have proportionally fewer really tender things. "

I would say the same is true for my yard. Over many years, most of the tender trials have died out - or looked so bad I removed them! LOL! -- things like Gardenias, some of the more tender Magnolias/Michelias, etc.

So what's left, even though some is very bronzed, should survive this winter.

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Comments (9)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
2 months ago
What is the size of those leaves?
UpperBayGardener (zone 7) thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
I'm getting a Distylium vibe. If so, possibly racemosum or one of the (many) hybrids. It would be helpful to have a closeup of a terminal twig and bud. If the terminal bud on a twig is bent like a finger, then could possibly be Cleyera japonica, but that's a fairly rare plant in our area.

Alternate leaf arrangement would rule out Ligustrum.
UpperBayGardener (zone 7) thanked Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
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bengz6westmd
2 months ago
Ellicott City is a wonderful place for a tourist-visit w/the steep hills down to the river (similar to Harpers Ferry, WV), but it is a dangerous flood-trap at times (again, like Harpers Ferry).
UpperBayGardener (zone 7) thanked bengz6westmd
UpperBayGardener (zone 7)
Original Author
2 months ago
Floral, they were fairly large, at least 3 cm, maybe up to 5 or even 6 cm long.

"I'm getting a Distylium vibe"

Yes, that would have been my closest guess too. But I've never seen them at a local DC/MD/NoVA area nursery, have you? Mind you that doesn't rule it out...I don't go to them very often. Nor have I ever seen them used for landscaping around here. So that's why I didn't suggest it.

Any Distylium should have been injured after this winter (mine was, to a minor degree) so I'm looking forward to an excuse to go back to that area and check on them again. When it warms up a bit more!
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
If it is Distylium, then very likely it got burnt from this winter's coldest spells...especially any of the most recent growth. More if in sun; less if in shade.

Yes, in answer to your question -- many cultivars of Distylium are offered at my closest good nursery. More new hybrids seem to be coming out every season or two.

My 'Blue Cascade' hybrid is now about 10 feet in diameter and maybe 5 to 6 feet high. It has some damage on the twigs, but overall looks fairly good.

My D. racemosum (Isu Tree) species is small-tree-like and is upwards of maybe 12 feet tall now. It is in a shaded spot and I can't tell if has sustained much damage.

A photo from many years ago:

The racemosum species has wider leaves (below), but you don't often see this for sale except through mail-order from Plant Nerd Nurseries.

But to me, yours looks quite similar to one called Coppertone™
UpperBayGardener (zone 7) thanked Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
raymondz7a
last month
Just FYI – I was not familiar with Distylium – when I web searched for plant details I noticed that Coppertone Distylium is available at Home Depot.
UpperBayGardener (zone 7) thanked raymondz7a
UpperBayGardener (zone 7)
Original Author
last month
I'm glad they are becoming more popular! It's very attractive.

Now I've got to go back to see how it held up!

I could bump my winter damage starter thread, but I'll just say here: this winter had the worst amounts of damage proportional to the total amount of trees and shrubs in my garden...but...much better survival percentage than the polar vortex winters. Both because I am smarter about how to plant certain things, and because I have proportionally fewer really tender things. Some things look really, really awful but at the same time, I'm sure they will recover.
bengz6westmd
last month
My 'Victoria' southern magnolia always sheds leaves in the winter (sheds some pretty much all the time), but I don't see any cold damage to the leaves.