Re: New House, New Plants to ID

Sean is right about Delairea odorata - a true thug if ever there was
one.  It is also known as 'German Ivy' and was a popular pot plant in
Europe for a while.  As a cheap winter flowering plant it has much to
commend it.  4" long cuttings taken in early August and potted up in
September will rapidly fill a 5" diameter pot and make a bright show
of colour for Christmas and the New year.  On the down side, if you
plant it out afterwards in any warmish climate it will outgrow and
smother anything within 20 - 30 feet.  It has become part-naturalised
here on the coast in South West England and is becoming a highly
noxious weed.  

Your 'clover' is one of the Bacopa species or may be a cultivated
variety.  It is a charming mat forming plant smothered in flower for
much of the year if conditions are to its liking.  There are several
native to the US, mostly found growing in dune slacks.  Although not
spectacular,  they are well worth growing and have relatively few
vices apart from closing down during periods of drought and extreme
heat.  

Its a fair bet that the 'berry bush' is Ligustrum vulgare - the wild
'common' privet native to much of Europe.  Leaf shape looks right and
the flush to the leaves is almost identical to that on plants growing
on the cliff-faces and wall around here.  I've got several growing on
top of a stone wall that encloses my garden and keep them under
control by cutting them back to a few inches high immediately after
they have produced their heavily (or sickly)  scented flowers in June.
That way they grow no more than a couple of feet high and are a mass
of flower for a few weeks in early summer.  Moths, butterflies and
bees love them!

Dave Poole
TORQUAY  UK
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