I need some advice, please.
Beside the bungalow in the backyard, is this evergreen shrub which produces lovely white flowers. It was here when we came. I always thought it was rather nice. To-day, I decided to trim it a little to cut it back a bit and knock it into shape. Then I discovered what a weed, what a pest it is. Underneath, were long dead canes. Over the top, sprouted new many-feet long canes. Behind it is a philodendron and they are in competition. I would prefer the philodendron. Could someone let me know how to manage this without resort to nasty chemicals or anything that will affect the soil or surrounding plants?
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2 comments:
Hi Miss Eagle
It looks like Abelia grandiflora to me. Tubular flowers in pale pinkish-white, but with persistent pink/brown bracts left on the bushy after the flowers finish.
Leaves are small, diamond shaped, and shiny, growing in opposite pairs (two leaves growing opposite eachother from nodes on the stem).
It is a big shrub, but I have not ever heard it described as a weed. But, a "weed" is a plant in the wrong place. If you prefer the Philodendron, then this plant is in the wrong place.
Generally "weeds" are plants which propagate too readily, in your garden, then down the local creek, and then out into the bush. As a Queenslander, you would know about the perils of Lantana and the blue -flowered "Morning Glory" Ipomoea indica - a huge and rampant vine which smothers trees in creeks in Brisbane. As a Melbournian (now) you would be aware of Blackberry as probably the most dominant weed of cool climates, that and the small, but dominant "Wandering Jew" which has smothered the ground in that string of parks (whose name I forget), along the Dandenong Creek.
Grasses, and Bamboo are in a different category, for grasses spread their seeds on the wind, and Bamboo is the classic "runner", which will grow under a fence, and up through a bitumen road on the other side.
By comparison, I would regard Abelia (if that is truly what you have) as a nice garden shrub, perhaps grown too large. You can cut it back (to ground level, and it will produce new "canes" - straight stems, to about 6 feet high, next year. Subsequently, the plant will thicken up, and flower again next spring.
But it is not a problem weed, like Privet, which sets one million seeds per plant each year, beloved by Silvereyes and Blackbirds. And the flowers of which are so heavily scented they drive hayfever suffers to tears for 3 weeks each November.
That is a real problem plant.
Cheers
Denis
Denis, You have it nailed. Those "persistent pink/brown bracts" are horrific. They grow so long and sprout everywhere! However, you make it sound lovable: and I thought it was OK until I got intimate with it yesterday! I'll continue hacking and see where that leaves me. I'll get it back to or near ground level and then let it grow again - and keep it in line from then on: give or take the behaviour of the philodendron! I figure if I hadn't started hacking it back it would have taken over the whole side of the unit eventually! I'd say it would be a good option for those wanting to cover a huge area of land without much or any water.
Thank you for being a fount of wisdom.
Blessings and bliss
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