A blackbird has moved into our garden.
I think a blackbird and his wife are living in the bay tree. I've seen Mrs peeping out between its 'golden' leaves and Mr standing on a branch of our Roundabout Tree, eating its bright red berries. One every two seconds. Peck, gulp and it's gone. Then another. And another. It's surprising there are any left.
I know nothing about blackbirds. I don't know where they live in the winter or whether it is usual that males and females hang out together at this time of year - but there they are!
Not that this plant is really called a 'Roundabout' tree. It's just that when my husband first brought it home I was horrified. It was ugly and, although I didn't (still don't) know what it's called, it's the kind of plant I associate with ground cover on municipal roundabouts.
There followed a few years of quarrels about the space it was growing into until, in the end, we came to an agreement that I could cut every end of any branch that stretched further than agreed bounds and that the lower branches could be trimmed off so the little white cyclamen it was bullying out of the way could have room to grow and breath.
Result? A sort of weeping standard almost tall as me which, this year, is heartily decorated with bright red berries - to the evident satisfaction of a blackbird. I quite like it too - after all!
I don't know what it is but . . .
Well . . . what is it?
18 comments:
I Googled "trees with red berries", then I clicked on "Images" at upper left of my screen. Some of them looked like yours. What color were the flowers? Does it have thorns? We spent a few nights in the guest room of a school in Manchester. I made it a point to return there each evening in time to listen to a blackbird's evening recital until dark in the back garden. I adored it. We do not have that kind of blackbird here in the USA. I very much wish that we could. Maybe that is the one someone thought they were bringing over here when they introduced the starlings, ugh!
Kind of looks like a cotoneaster.
Maybe a cotoneaster or Pyracantha?
The black birds here do not eat the cotoneaster, but it is nice you have a plant that they do eat the berries.
My guess would also be some kind of Pyracantha.
Looks like a cotoneaster to me...but don't quote me!
Hi Esther, certainly cotoneaster though I'd hesitate to say which one as there are so very many. Simonsii perhaps - http://www.plant-identification.co.uk/skye/rosaceae/cotoneaster-simonsii.htm
Dave
Another vote for cotoneaster. There's a word for your next Wednesday. I can spell it, but no idea how to split the syllables to say it?
Cotoneaster cornubia! Grown in supermarket carparks and roundabouts across the land - but none the worse for that; vigorous, evergreen, fruits prolifically, indestructible!
Cotoneaster cornubia it is.
And yes, Blackbirds do eat mine too. I have a yellow berried version (or perhaps a Pyracantha) which also gets gobbled up by blackbirds, but they always prefer the red berries first.
My red berried ones came from 'nicked' cuttings in Sainsbury's car park. I can't remember where I got the yellow one!
Cheers....Bernard
no idea but love the red berries..
Aren't the leaves on Esther's shrub a little small for cornubia, Nick and Bernard? (Sorry, Esther - talking about you as if you're not here).
David, (excuse us Ester), you may well be right. I am no expert but I believe your 'simonsii' is a 'semi-evergreen, and hence we need our dear friend Ester to verify this for us.
'Tis certainly one or t'other.
The berries are beautiful and the fact that they attract the birds is nice to know. I have a tree that is filled with berries but eventually not one remain since it attract all sort of birds. After a few weeks, new berries would grow and the birds would be back again.
No idea what cotoneaster it is, but obviously worth having just for bird food that you don't have to remember to replenish!
David - yes, the leaves may be a bit small for C. cornubia, but I'm guessing they might just be young, after a bit of pruning.
The leaves on C. simonsii are glossier than on C. cornubia, and Esther's leaves look matte to me, so my vote still goes for C. cornubia.
Bernard - strictly speaking all Cotoneasters are "semi-evergreen" meaning they hold their leaves in all but the severest of winters, so I don't think this is a characteristic which will help to id Esther's shrub.
It's good to hear that you ended up liking the plant after all. Your husband should know what plant since he brought it home and has even defended its territory. Hahaha! Just kidding. Very active conversation on your ID. We should all know soon enough what your plant is. Then the rest of us who want blackbirds in our garden know what new plant to get.
Hello Everyone - thanks for you help with this little tree! The more you said, the more my affection for it grew. Which is just as well. We cannot bear to get rid of anything in our garden and have another plant of the same kind (self seeded) and growing in a pot.
Hello Barbee - no thorns.
Hi, Katie and Linda - seems that Cotoneaster tops the vote.
Hello Garden Walk - interesting that your blackbirds do not eat the berries on your cotoneaster. I wonder if this is due to the variety or because your garden offers them tastier fare.
Hello Helen. I'll have to learn the difference between cotoneaster and pyracantha. I wish it were a pyracantha - simply on the grounds that pyracantha is such a nice name.
Hello Diana at Elephant's Eye - Cotoneaster is divided into five syllables. Cot - on (but pronounced 'own' as in 'I own a cotoneaster!') - e (a long one, as in eat) - aster (like the plant).
Donna - the berries are lovely and the weeping elegance of this little tree is special too . . . but, if I had left it to grow as it liked, it would have been grim.
Hello One - once the berries have been eaten, we'll have to wait till next autumn for more!
Hello Janet - I gave up bothering with bird food long ago. There are lots of cats here and it would be unwise for birds to hang around for too long.
Hello Bom. Do you have blackbirds round about you to attract? That's interesting.
David, Nick, Bernard and Anonymous (Anonymous?). . . Thank you so much for your input and discussion.
. . . the leaves are matte; small near the trunk and growing longer along the stems - until, at the ends, they are about one and a half inches long. I took these photographs towards the middle of the branches.
All this would suggest Cotoneaster Cornubia (is that right?) except . . . when I look up descriptions of it, they say it has a froth of white flowers. The flowers on this are completely insignificant. You have to decide to look before you notice them. I'll have to check when the season comes round - but I think they are pink too, not white. I may be wrong because sometimes white flowers look pink when they are in bud or first opening . . . but my memory is a sort of musty pink.
Thank you very much, everyone, for your help and interest.
You may like to know there's a new post on the blog - maybe you'll be able to tell me what caterpillar is eating my rainbow chard!
Esther
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