On 05/08/2014 22:43, Roger Tonkin wrote:

Neighbour has this copper coloured shrub, about 1 meter high.
It is an evergreen (or should that be evercopper!) but just a
few shoots have a mixture of copper and some green leaves. He
is no real gardener, these were planted for him, but wonders
why - so do I.

Pictures are at:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1043284...40020407/Bush?
authkey=Gv1sRgCObny-Ds4vaecA

Pictures 1 & 2 show the green area. There are both green and
copper on the same branch. The green leaves seem to have
started yellowing a bit (Pic 1).

Picture 3 shows a bi-coloured leaf

Picture 4 shows the whole bush

Looks like Physocarpus opulifolius "Diablo" to me. Sometimes plants
with coloured leaves start off green and the colour changes as the
leaves age. In this case, though, it looks like there is a reversion to
the normal leaf colour. The way to deal with it is to cut out the whole
green-leaved branch as close to the main stem as possible, as it will be
more vigorous than the dark-leaved branches and soon outgrow them.

--

Jeff