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Old 03-06-2007, 08:02 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Dave Poole Dave Poole is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jan 2004
Location: Torquay S. Devon
Posts: 478
Default Red bell flowering tree ID please

On Jun 2, 11:02 pm, john smile wrote:
Thank you for all the replies of the above flower. I am pretty sure it
is a type of Abelia. The one in my book was white but mine was very
pink hence i missed it.


John, it is most definitely not an Abelia and most definitely is a
hybrid Escallonia. Abelias are related to the honeysuckles and share
the familial trait of having tubular or funnel-shaped flowers with
inequal length petals united at their bases and for part of their
length at least. In Abelia, the arrangement is such that there are
two slightly shorter upper and three slightly longer lower petals,
united into a tube for approximately 3/4 of their length with only the
free tips flaring. In Escallonia there is one upper petal, two upper
laterals and two lower laterals. They are not united and open more or
less flat. There is no true similarity in the foliage either apart
from both having glossy leaves, but the flowers alone are enough to
ensure identity. Your picture is that of an Escallonia.