Solved Can anyone tell me what this is?

Can anyone tell me what this shrub is please? Thank you!

 

Hi @Marley Farley

Mmm... hadn't considered that. Not sure it has a Hebe habit. Here's a different close up of the leaf structure. And overall bush. Was thinking maybe a Daphne, but are they waxy? Not seen the flowers and it's not mine.

 

Maj...welcome to the forums.
It would be most helpful to know where this shrub is growing.
Pic looks tropical.

 

Hi @Silver surfer

Not tropical, just a raised bed in North London!

 

Right! Thank you...in that case maybe Skimmia sp.

 

Oh! could be, could be... Thanks. I think I'm going to have to wait until it flowers to know for definite. But very useful, thanks!

 

Yes ..without flowers that was just a maybe suggestion.
Always so much easier with flower/berries.
Having said that I cannot think of any alternative.
Do keep us posted.

 

That looks like Azalea to me

 

I considered Rhododendron but by now I would have expected to see strong buds in the tips.

 

My Azalea has no buds now, it has already finished flowering

 

Did you know that all Azaleas are Rhododendron...but not all Rhododendrons are Azaleas?

It is a bit complicated...Azaleas are normally either deciduous or rather small leaved /dwarf evergreens.
Whilst Rhodo's tend to have larger evergreen leaves or can be deciduous.
I cannot think of any Azalea with such large evergreen leaves.

To quote www....

Azaleas have been reclassified and are now in the genus Rhododendron. There are no clear cut lines for distinguishing all azaleas from all rhododendrons but here are a few characteristics to look for. True rhododendrons have 10 or more stamens which is 2 per lobe. Azaleas usually have 5 stamens or 1 per lobe.etc etc.

So deciduous Azaleas would not have buds now but large leaves evergreen Rhodo's will have the buds for next years flower formed already.

Below is what used to be Azalea luteum...daintier...flowers have 5 stamen. Now correctly called Rhododendron luteum.


Below is Rhododendron Sinofalconeri..large with large dark evergreen leaves and 10 stamen.

 

Knew a fair amount of your interesting post @Silver surfer but did not know that Rhododendrons can be deciduous and also didn't know my smelly Luteum is now called a Rhododendron! Here was miss me thinking I knew quite a lot about the genus...wrong

 

, by the way, hello @MAJ and to the forum.