Laburnum? Mystery volunteer id

Discussion in 'Outdoor Gardening in the Pacific Northwest' started by Georgia Strait, Jun 4, 2021.

  1. Georgia Strait

    Georgia Strait Generous Contributor

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    this arrived in a nursery pot that contained a rhodo or something suitable to coastal Vanc BC climate

    I don’t know what it is

    There are no thorns

    I don’t think I have seen any showy flowers

    No noticeable scent

    I took a photo to compare this shrub tree to a salmon berry leaf

    Deer don’t touch it (oh wait — patent pending! :)

    @Margot? Any ideas?

    England? @Acerholic

    USA RonB @Ron B

    Is this in your ID catalogue Wendy? @wcutler

    I look forward to any contributor plant ID suggestions

    NB - the 4th picture shows a BC coastal native salmon berry leaf (related to rose leaf - Family ? ) for comparison. Rubus spectabilis - Wikipedia
     

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  2. Margot

    Margot Renowned Contributor 10 Years

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    Could it be a laburnum?
     
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  3. Georgia Strait

    Georgia Strait Generous Contributor

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    Yes I think you’ve got it - thank you!
    It had never flowered

    Is it like wisteria that takes a few years before flower?

    And here I was going to chop it out of its volunteer spot
    ————-
    I see Van Dusen has a laburnum walk

    Laburnum Walk now bloomin’ beautiful at VanDusen Botanical Garden

    And some faraway place somewhere over the far ocean (Kew)

    Queens Garden - Laburnum Walk - 17th C

    Queen’s Garden | Kew
     
  4. Margot

    Margot Renowned Contributor 10 Years

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    Though I've never grown laburnum, it remains a favourite from my childhood home in Burnaby. Others were Bridal Wreath, Japanese Quince, Lilac and Snowball Bush. Some avoid it because the seeds are toxic and have been know to sicken children who mistake them for peas.

    I don't know how quickly it flowers from seed but those seeds are prone to germinating under and around the tree.
     
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  5. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Yes, a Laburnum; not enough detail to tell whether it is Common Laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides) or Alpine Laburnum (L. alpinum), or the hybrid between them (L. × watereri). And yes, you'll need to wait a few years for it to flower, though not quite so long as for Wisteria, I'd guess around 5 years.

    The toxicity problem is much reduced if you get the hybrid, as it has low fertility, so its pods only have one or two seeds in, and don't look anything like as enticing as the plump, seed-filled pods of Common Laburnum. In Britain, the hybrid is now by far the most commonly planted Laburnum, precisely for that safety reason.
     
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  6. Georgia Strait

    Georgia Strait Generous Contributor

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    DÉTAIL - if you have a moment to let me know what detail you would like - it’s easy to take pictures and post here.

    Bark?
     
  7. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Hybrid selections like 'Vossii' have more flower power than the parent species, I would think that is why these would have become dominant in commerce. Anyway your seedling is still too juvenile to tell much about specific identity.
     
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