"David Hill" wrote in message
...
On 11/08/2013 18:38, David56802 wrote:
I wonder if some of the experts here can please help me identify the
following?

The first is a garden plant about four feet tall (at the moment!).
The second is a shrub about 15 feet tall. The third is a small tree.

Any ideas? [...]

The 2nd is Escalonia,
You say it's a bush about 15 ft tall, that gives me a problem with the
3rd.
It is a form of Privet, I suspect the ordinary hedging form (Ligustrum
Ovalifolium, or Ligustrum Vulgare ) but I've never seen it growing as
a tree,
There is a form of Tree Privet (Ligustrum lucidum). but it has leaves
about 3 inches long and the tree can reach 30ft .
David

I can't claim any expertise but:
1)The round hard-looking flower buds on the first remind me of
centaureas, so given the current height, could it be Centaurea
macrocephala? I think that does have wavy, pointed foliage.

2) Agree Escallonia Iveyi. I used to grow this one and it had those
glossy leaves that made more of an impact than other Escallonias and the
shrub grew fairly upright, taller than it was wide. A handsome shrub I
thought, but I lost mine when I foolishly tried to move it in unsuitably
dry weather and forgot to water it enough. :-/

3) Yes, looks very Privet like.

--
Sue