plant ID

[mrswadders]

Hi can anyone ID this please? when we moved in last year it was huge and near the house, so as was the case with most of the garden I had to hack it back! I believe it has white flowers according to our neighbour. It's getting a tad tall again now, so just wondering if any of you knowledgeable peeps could help. Do you reckon it might yet flower? or an I wasting my time.

cheers folks

[veggiechicken]

My best guesses are Philadelphus or Deutzia.

[mrswadders]

Thanks VC I'll do a bit of googling

[nickdub]

I reckon it'll probably flower if left to its own devices for a bit - not sure what it is, but for once I don't think either of VC's suggestions are correct.

[mrswadders]

OK,think I'll leave off for a bit and see what happens!

[veggiechicken]

I reckon it'll probably flower if left to its own devices for a bit - not sure what it is, but for once I don't think either of VC's suggestions are correct.

Oh no!!
Mrs W, when did you move there? Can you remember any flowers, especially ones with a nice smell?

[mrswadders]

Hi VC we moved in at the end of March,saw no flowers but there were'clusters of buds' which I thought looked like lilac just forming,so far this year nowt. It's getting quite tall again

[mrswadders]

I'm thinking it's not lilac as there's loads round here in flower now. Also the leaves are not smooth/glossy

[veggiechicken]

You're going to have to keep it now - and hope that it flowers in summer, so that we can identify it.
What about the autumn colour - did it have any?

[mrswadders]

Not evergreen,new stems are a pale green/grey. I know from chatting to neighbours that the people who would have planted it(not previous owners as they let the garden sprawl) but prior to them were very keen and created a new style garden and did like their shrubs. Think we'll just have to wait and maybe cut a bit back as said neighbour reckons its getting a bit big again. Just loath to cut it back if we're going to get some nice flowers...

[mrswadders]

"That should say Mediterranean style"

[Mitzi]

My first thought was also philadelphus but I'm not sure.

What time of year did you cut it down? I think philadelphus should be pruned after flowering so the new shoots form and ripen over summer that will bear the following year's flowers. If you pruned it in late summer or autumn then you would have cut off this year's flowers.

As you sound like you're itching to cut it down, I'd prune it now then leave it alone for 12 months and see if it flowers next spring.

[mrswadders]

It was cut back in early June,not so much itching but said neighbour has commented that it's getting a bit tall....I'd like to keep it if it has nice flowers otherwise yes I will be tempted to get rid and put something else there. Do you think thinning out some of the taller growth would do any harm I.e keep said neighbour quiet but still hopefully get some flowers?

[HoneyChild]

Maybe you could give it the 'Chelsea chop'?

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=594

[Mitzi]

Maybe you could give it the 'Chelsea chop'?

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=594

This looks like a shrub rather than a perennial, though.