Can anyone identify a tree I saw when visiting Croydon in October?
It has pea sized, deep violet berries, each of which has four or five pink bracts behind it, trailing to form the shape of a shuttlecock.

I assume it is not a native - and, being a Scot, I'm the other alien!

On Mar 15, 5:59*pm, NickH nick.hayes-
wrote:
Can anyone identify a tree I saw when visiting Croydon in October?
It has pea sized, deep violet berries, each of which has four or five
pink bracts behind it, trailing to form the shape of a shuttlecock.

I assume it is not a native - and, being a Scot, I'm the other alien!

--
NickH

Could be Leycestria formosa, Himalayan Honeysuckle. If you hold your
ear very close to the berries you will hear them whispering,
"Honeysuckle, Jim, but not as we know it."

"NickH" wrote...

Can anyone identify a tree I saw when visiting Croydon in October?
It has pea sized, deep violet berries, each of which has four or five
pink bracts behind it, trailing to form the shape of a shuttlecock.

I assume it is not a native - and, being a Scot, I'm the other alien!

I can picture it but do you think I can remember the name.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden

On 15/3/09 17:59, in article , "NickH"
wrote:


Can anyone identify a tree I saw when visiting Croydon in October?
It has pea sized, deep violet berries, each of which has four or five
pink bracts behind it, trailing to form the shape of a shuttlecock.

I assume it is not a native - and, being a Scot, I'm the other alien!

Try a Google image search on Clerodendrum trichotomum - it's a possible and
not often seen.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online

In message , NickH
writes

Can anyone identify a tree I saw when visiting Croydon in October?
It has pea sized, deep violet berries, each of which has four or five
pink bracts behind it, trailing to form the shape of a shuttlecock.

I assume it is not a native - and, being a Scot, I'm the other alien!

A (the?) plant with striking violet berries is Callicarpa. However, I
suspect that this isn't what you saw, as the commonly cultivated forms
at least have smaller berries, and lack the bracts.




--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

"Bob Hobden" wrote

"NickH" wrote...

Can anyone identify a tree I saw when visiting Croydon in October?
It has pea sized, deep violet berries, each of which has four or five
pink bracts behind it, trailing to form the shape of a shuttlecock.

I assume it is not a native - and, being a Scot, I'm the other alien!

I can picture it but do you think I can remember the name.

Possibly Euonymus oxyphyllacus but I think it's something else where the
berry is seperated from the rest by a little stalk, a bit like a ball with a
parachute.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden

Many thanks for all the suggestions. I had an interesting time checking them out. Thanks especially to Sacha of
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
who correctly identified it as Clerodendrum trichotomum.

Nick
--
Sacha

On 17/3/09 20:15, in article , "NickH"
wrote:


Many thanks for all the suggestions. I had an interesting time checking
them out. Thanks especially to Sacha of
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
who correctly identified it as Clerodendrum trichotomum.

Nick

I'm glad to be of help and I recommend it if you have room for it. The
scent is lovely, as are the flowers and berries.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online

On 2009-03-15 17:59:55 +0000, NickH
said:


Can anyone identify a tree I saw when visiting Croydon in October?
It has pea sized, deep violet berries, each of which has four or five
pink bracts behind it, trailing to form the shape of a shuttlecock.

I assume it is not a native - and, being a Scot, I'm the other alien!

Clerodendrum trichotomum var. fargiesii, I'd guess. It's a beautiful
thing but comes into leaf quite late and always worries me that it's up
and died. However, it is hardy. It has very scented white flowers
before it produces the berries you saw and is a real gem.
--
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials
South Devon