Evergreen Tree with Red Berries {about 25 feet tall} Name: Yew Trees
A new house means new plants and well, we’ve got a few in our yard that I have absolutely no idea what they are. As much as I enjoy gardening, when it comes to planting flowers and bushes, I have pretty much stuck to the same formula in every garden I’ve ever planted. Maybe that makes me boring. I don’t know, but I do know what I like, that’s for sure.
Plants I’ll be adding to the garden beds at the new place will include:
- Hydrangeas {got the last 9 the store had!}
- Boxwoods {ordered!}
- Common Hibiscus {waiting for the 40% off fall sale}
- Wisteria {I’ll plant it next spring}
- Ornamental Poppies {I’ll sow the seeds in late fall}
- Sunflowers {next summer}
- Spring bulbs like tulips, daffodils and hyacinth {waiting for my shipment}
- Purple Coneflowers {I’ll plant them next spring}
- English Lavender {I’ll start the seeds in January}
Plants I’ve discovered since moving to New England that I love and need to find a place for:
- Autumn Joy Sedum
- Peonies
- Snowdrops
Plants I like but the HH doesn’t want planted in our yard because he is a total weirdo:
- Geraniums {WHY, I have no idea. It must be something deep-seated from his youth!}.
- Petunias {Hanging baskets are apparently okay, but not planted in the ground}.
- Marigolds. {He despises marigolds, I don’t especially like marigolds, but still, they can be a fun addition in just the right spot}.
Plant with Pinkish Red Flowers {about 18″ tall} Name:
I have absolutely no idea what this plant is. Do you?
Giant Bush with white flowers {about 2′ x 2′} Maybe Viburnum? Name: Eupatorium-Rugosum-Chocolate
Maybe the stem color is a clue. If you have this blooming in your garden right now, please help.
About feet tall with pale purple flowers. Aster maybe? Name: Aster
I think I saw these at the grocery store last week. Are they asters?
And here’s something new. Some sort of bush with something that looks like an apple growing right off the ground! I’ve never seen such a thing before.
This is what the bush looks like. Name: Quince Bush! I found a video HERE. Thank you everyone! 🙂
Another totally common flower I don’t know the name of. Do you know what it is? Name:
Oh, and in case you’re wondering if the house came with day-lilies… YES, YES IT DID. But mark my words, by this time tomorrow, they’ll be on the compost heap. 😉
Have a productive Thursday everyone and stay out of trouble.
~Mavis
Sue R says
I believe the evergreen with the berries is a yew. Poisonous. I have no side on the others, although they look familiar.
Kari says
If it is yew, I would tear it out. It is very poisonous! In my parts, they occasionally find herds of elk and deer dead because of it. In the harsh winters, when animals come down further for food, they’ll eat it out of people’s yards and all die.
Jane says
Hi Mavis. Purple flower definitely looks like asters to me. Pink flower I think is a flox.
Cecile Hoare says
I believe it is a wild aster, I have a few growing in my one flower bed that I’ve not been able to weed since preparing for our move!
Yes the purple hydrangea looking one looks like a phlox to me. Can be invasive but smells delightful!
Mary says
Phlox
Kate says
I am siding with your HH on his dislike of certain flowers. Here’s possible reasons he doesn’t like them. These are the reasons i don’t like the same 3 either.
1. Geraniums and marigolds, although colorful, stink. Literally stink.
2. Petunias are also colorful, but do not last very long , compared to other flowers. They are not worth the money or the investment in time and energy to plant. If I am going to garden, I prefer to plant long lasting perennials that actually smell good.
Tisha says
I think the pinkish flowers could be dianthus, but wait until they open fully. Light purple flowers are definitely asters. I’ll be interested to learn the others.
Heri says
Yes, Yew with berries. Possibly Balsamina perennial impatiens, blue/purple New England Aster, common garden Phlox, yellow day lily possibly Stella D’Oro. Unsure of the apple bush and white flowers dark stems. – JD repurposed gardener
Tracy T says
Giant Bush with white flowers {about 2′ x 2′} …looks like Thai Basil to me.
Jennifer macgregor says
I know you hate the daylilies but the unopened buds are edible, and oh so delicious. We sauteed them in garlic and butter. You can read more about them in a book by Samuel Thayer
Ann says
The yellow fruit looks like a quince. I have never tasted one, but I think it can be used for jam.
Michele Cheney says
Yes Quince and makes great jam. And the bush is beautiful when it flowers in spring.
Cecile Hoare says
I agree that the apple looking fruit is a Quince, they look pretty gnarled at times but make the best jelly when mixed with rosehips! Our neighbour’s have a quince tree. I have a feeling this one has been bonsai’ed to keep it shorter to the ground, normally they are about the same size as an apple tree.
Mel says
I think that fruit bush might be a quince, but I’m not very good at plant ID. If it is quince, I believe the fruit is good for jelly.
katie p nc says
I think you should bunch up your lilies and put them out on the road for a neighbor. Precursor to the new farm stand for this house. Although, that is, of course, if you’re not planning on taking out all your anger on the bulbs when digging them up.
MEM says
I like your idea Katie! I was thinking along the same lines – a Buy Nothing kind of local group. Or post on Craig’s List as a sort of “curb alert”. Some of us love daylilies – they will thrive in the worst soil.
Emily E. says
Yes someone will take free lilies!
Tracy says
I got some double purple conn flowers some years back from bteck I don’t even know if breck existes anymore. Anyway they send up petals from the center as well. Also still loving my 2 times a season bearded irises from them as well.
Sandi Hozeska says
Yes, Breck’s still exist. I receive their catalog!
nancy from mass says
the flower after the quince bush is a tall phlox. i have them all over my yard. they are beautiful.
the aster could be an overgrown aster plant or it could be fleabane. no, it does not attract fleas….:)
Dan says
I have had great success with the Plantnet app to identify.
Shanade says
The pretty purple flowers are phlox and the pink are definitely asters.
Cecile Hoare says
I have Hibiscus seeds from our neighbour that I would love to send you. They are a cerise red and the size of a small dinner plate when in full bloom. We are moving next weekend so once I unpack I will send you a few to see if you can get them to take. I would also look for a few citronella plants to grow around the yard, they are great for keeping all kinds of bugs at bay!
I can’t wait to see the new place! I will admit I was in shock when you posted you were actually going through with the sale! But, you have to do what you have to do, to do the thing you love! P.S. Tell HH that marigolds are a wonderful plant to have around specially when it comes to mosquitoes!
Melissa M. says
The plant with the pinkish red flowers (18” tall) looks like Sweet William, a type of dianthus. Like someone said before me, not sure until they bloom.
Tonya Stoddard says
I concur w Sweet Williams. They are beautiful.
Kari says
My elderly Hungarian farmer friend down the road makes the most amazing quince candy. You should google a recipe and try some!!
Diana says
The flower just above the daylily is phlox.
The giant bush with the white flowers reminds me of my elderberry bush, but they don’t bloom now.
I believe the dark pink in bud is also aster.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=pictures+of+asters+in+bud&id=652A019F6A954227718E33F4511F31DB97D1A14D&FORM=IQFRBA
Connie says
Diana, I saw elderberry immediately, but I think they flower in spring and fruit late summer to fall. If it is elderberry you are one very lucky girl Mavis.
Caitlin says
Yes, pink flower is a phlox. We have them in white/purple/pink. Lovely to have in the garden, but great to cut and bring in as well.
I’d recommend the app iNaturalist to you, its helped me ID many a plant in the garden, as well as bugs.
Jen M says
Evergreen with red berries is probably an english or European yew, the bush with the white flowers might be a type of hawthorn. Perhaps common or Indian.
Louise says
I’ve enjoyed Yew in my yard. I’ve even decorated with it at Christmas. It’s always good to know what’s poisonous … hydrangea, boxwood, hibiscus, wisteria, poppy … 😉
Meredydd says
I think I have three of your plants identified. The purple flower in the first picture is either a burdock or a thistle. The apple thing is a quince. The skinny purple trumpet-like flowers are Nicotiana.
Karen says
There is a good app for your phone… Picture This. It does a good job with identifying plants and you can learn about them from the app. You can forward to your iPad or desktop computer the information, too.
Karen says
Ok… I will correct myself. The app is PictureThis – Plant Identifier.
Lynne says
I know nothing about plants but a former employer was all about the benefits of planting those things native to the area. We were even restricted to “native here and found between these years”. A similar idea might be a nice way for you to expand your horizons.
Susan Ricketts says
The first shrub looks like a Joe Pye to me, but a lot of things could look like that. The one with “pinkish red flowers”
Nora says
Tree: yew (yew tree), poisonous (needles and berries, okay for birds)
1st plant: bart carnation
Maxine says
Lots of plants! My guess on the dark stemmed, white flowers is elderberry? Can’t wait to see pics of the landscape. I was guessing a small yard, but looks like room for plenty of plants.
Gilbert H Wild has sale on peonies.
Cayce says
I think the white flowers are Eupatorium. (I’m not sure of the common name). It’s so much fun seeing what pops up in a new garden!
HollyG says
Maybe you could sneak a few scented geraniums in past HH. I found a new one this summer (new to me) – the leaves smell like creamsicles. The lemon or peppermint scented leaves make a lovely addition to tea. Also, the quince jam is wonderful used to glaze hame or pork roast.
Robin Martin says
Have I missed a picture of the new house somewhere? I really want to see what you picked out this time!! The quince is such a beautiful golden color, are they hard or do they soften up?
Rita says
I would love to see the new house too! Like to see the yard as well!
Joyce says
Mavis, I am so jealous that you have quince! I have special ordered them in our fruit/veg store just to make quince honey/preserves….so good. Would make a good addition to your canning for winter use. Look into the recipes and make some…would be a great addition to a wowie-zowie party platter with cheeses, crackers and etc.
Joyce in Indiana
Kate says
From the shape of the fruit the quince looks like it might be an ornamental variety. Edible quince often look bigger and less apple-shaped. If the fruit doesn’t turn soft, don’t bother trying to cook and eat it, it will just take ages to hack into pieces, look pretty in the saucepan and taste awful. The flowers are pretty in Spring.
Cris says
My husband agrees with yours. All of those plants can be rather “stinky”. I think you’re on to something about his childhood. Perhaps his mother grew too many outside his bedroom window.
Ann says
The “stinky” scent of marigolds is what repels deer, bunnies and other marauding wildlife. I plant them at each corner of every bed and interspersed throughout freeform beds, thereby avoiding destructive raids.
Nadia Fadell says
Mavis, we try to kill wisteria here in North Florida. Horribly invasive. We never have to plant, it shows up EACH AND EVERY year, and chokes the life out of other plants, trees and slowly helps them meet their demise.
Jozie77 says
Irst pic =”taxus baccata” or english yew…
Lynda says
Evergreen is a yew….poisonous to horses, I know..and cows…but you don’t have any…
Please give the day lilies to someone. I’d take them if I was near!!! They are wonderful plants! Maybe you have to have grown up on the East coast to appreciate them.
Betsy Hildebrand says
In case you’re interested, the daylilies are completely edible. They’re actually quite tasty. Also, the yellow ones in the picture are not common ditch lilies, but are a designer variety that won’t spread prolifically.
Jamie says
the last purple pic looks like phlox. a very pretty wildflower
Judy says
Mavis I have to ask .. Why do you hate Daylillys so much?? I love them!! I’m always looking for new colors!
Jennifer says
I think the dark purple stemmed, white flowers is chocolate Joe Pye weed. Mine is blooming right now, about 3-4 feet tall and soft stemmed (it will die back to the ground in the winter) If you have woody stems I’ve got no idea.
Angela says
Hi Mavis,
I believe the purple flower is named Phlox
Breanne says
I think that the bush you believe is viburnum is chocolate snakeroot or some similar variety of joe pye weed (Eupatorium). They are late blooming, so would still be flowering now.
Thelma says
Congratulations on your new home! How exciting! You are so lucky to have quince! Its amazing , but it has to be cooked It’s a rock hard fruit, challenging to cut up, but transforms when its poached or boiled, turns a lovely rosy colour! The purple flower is phlox.