What is it?

I passed this shrub yesterday and once again I wondered what it was called.

The leaves are shaped like holly, yet in high summer it produces a mass of colour with trumpet shaped flowers.  It is the only bush like it that I have ever seen and the householder was unable to give me a name for it.

Magpie!  Are you familiar with it?

UPDATE: Through the wonderful world of blogging friends we didn’t have to wait long!  Desfontainea spinosa is your answer.  Thank you Nelly and please pass on a great big hug to Bert the sleepy clarinet playing horticulturist for his wisdom!  Now give that man another slice of cake!

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Now don’t forget to come back at 5p.m. for a spot of loose blogging…. It was my turn to pick the topic this week!

26 thoughts on “What is it?

  1. steph

    No idea of the name of that shrub ❓ Nice though.

    GM,

    If you loose blog, does it mean you get called a LOOSE blogger? 😮

    Reply
  2. Nelly

    Desfontainea – Grannymar. Just checked it with Bert. He is a horticulturist y’know. Although all the other horticulturists are out of their beds by now. He’s a sleepy horticulturist.

    Reply
  3. Grannymar Post author

    @Alice – Thanks to the wonderful world of blogging friends we didn’t have to wait long! Desfontainea spinosa is your answer.

    @Steph – A LOOSE blogger? More like a loose cannon in my case! 🙄

    @Nelly – Please thank the sleepy clarinet playing horticulturist for his wisdom! I hope you didn’t wake him up to ask. 😉

    Reply
  4. Nelly

    I did so wake him up, Hey Bert what d’ye call that holly looking thing with the long apicoty-orange flowers we saw at Castle Kennedy? But never fear – he dropped right off again.

    Reply
  5. Grannymar Post author

    @Nick – I would prefer a tree like that at Christmas.

    @Nelly – 😆 Save the cake for later so! 😆

    Reply
  6. Baino

    Weird looking thing. That’ll keep the cats out of your garden. Ouch! Bed you didn’t know my nick name is “Nelly” TA-DAAAAA!

    Reply
  7. Nancy

    I think it is called the candy corn bush. Do you have that sweet in Ireland? We give it to the children at Halloween..

    Reply
  8. Grannymar Post author

    @Steph – The only thing loose about me are my teeth! 🙄

    @Baino – Nothing keeps the cats out! I knew you have a nickname. 😉

    @Kate – That it is.

    @Nancy – I am not familiar with them.

    @Nelly – Thanks Nelly, you are a mine of information.

    Reply
  9. Grannymar Post author

    @WWW – I don’t believe it! I never saw it anywhere else.

    @Ramana – If you want to find an answer…. ask the blogging fraternity! 😀

    Reply
  10. Magpie11

    Here I am…late again! Chilean Holly I think!

    It’s interesting that Chilean Glory vine (Eccremocarpus scaber) has similar flowers but in racemes IIRC)

    Reply
  11. Grannymar Post author

    Magpie,

    What was that important piece of information imparted by school teachers???? 😉 Read all the questions first! 😆

    Reply
  12. kate

    I’m a little late with this..

    I have these plants in my garden! Mexican Vine is the common name, they are so easy to grow. They now cover a whole wall and fence, in a sheltered spot they withstand the frost and snow. (mine lived through last winter)

    Reply
  13. Grannymar Post author

    Another Kate, welcome on board.

    I wonder if Chilean Holly and are one and the same plant or slight variations? No matter it is a lovely specimen.

    Reply

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