Can anyone here identify this tree.

[1930]

East central florida. Very sandy soil. Ive not seen another that I can recollect.

Im looking for a privacy fence that grows very quickly and requires little maintenance. Some sort of dwarf that maybe maxes out at 8 feet and stays full all the way to base.

I understand that this prob. Isnt it but wont know unless I identify.

Thanks

 

[1930]

More pics

 

[Tonyinohio]

More pics

It's in the Rhododendron family. A shrub not a tree. Hope that helps.

 

[Maxify55]

It's a Ligustrum:

Ligustrum Plants In The Landscape - Tips For Planting Ligustrum Shrubs

My son has a beautiful tree almost 50' high off his patio.
Hate to think how long it took to grow that high...
30 -40 yrs?

 

[kthompson]

If you want a privacy fence consider a Holley. But look up recommendations from the Ag University there. Not sure which one it is or go by your County Agents office, should have brochure with recommendations.

 

[/pine]

cherry laurel

They are quite prevalent in central FL...they will grow into a large tree...

https://www.wilcoxnursery.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Cherry-laurel-foliage.jpg

 

[1930]

If you want a privacy fence consider a Holley. But look up recommendations from the Ag University there. Not sure which one it is or go by your County Agents office, should have brochure with recommendations.

I spent quite a bit of time researching these at your suggestion. Ive ordered these 5-Nellie R Stevens Holly Liners | eBay and am hopeful of positive results. Thanks

 

[RalphVa]

I thought it looks like a holly. Could be Ligustrum or cherry laurel. One thing they don't have is a DNA data base for shrubs. Hope someone is working on it. We need it.

Around here, I and my neighbor, both naked gardeners, like Leyland cypress. I had a few, and he put in A LOT more. They get a canker if they get too dry, but neither I nor he have experienced any canker in any of ours. They grow very fast and are evergreen and have limbs all the way to the ground almost like a shrub.

Ralph

 

[TractorGuy]

I thought it looks like a holly. Could be Ligustrum or cherry laurel. One thing they don't have is a DNA data base for shrubs. Hope someone is working on it. We need it.

Around here, I and my neighbor, both naked gardeners, like Leyland cypress. I had a few, and he put in A LOT more. They get a canker if they get too dry, but neither I nor he have experienced any canker in any of ours. They grow very fast and are evergreen and have limbs all the way to the ground almost like a shrub.

Ralph

I got a deal on some Murray Cypress this year. Just planted 40 of them and I have 10 left over.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

If you want a privacy fence consider a Holley. But look up recommendations from the Ag University there. Not sure which one it is or go by your County Agents office, should have brochure with recommendations.

One of the problems with Holly is one they start seeding you will have holly sprouts all over the place. They seem to sprout more readily that some other species. Last place I had there were a lot ov volunteer Holly up in the woods. Over 7 years I was there I got to potting and selling them at $5 a piece. Sold a lot, destroyed a lot where I could get at them. Where mixed in with other trees they will wind around other stuff. Not bad firewood though. I call them one of our weed trees along with alder and willow. Nasty to handle the female trees with their thorny leaves.

Ron

 

[Gem99ultra]

yep, its a Ligustrum. I have a couple that I have to chop back a couple of times per year. They'll grow about 18 inches per year if I don't keep them in check. Heck, they're already about 9' high, higher than I want to have to trim them annually. I'm tempted to chop them down to about a foot high every year, but the birds rely on them for bad weather protection.

You'll find that they require very little care, other than trimming them back. Great barrier shrubs.

 

[/pine]

Crinkle up a few leaves and see what it smells like...I bet it smells like cherry...!

 

[1930]

Crinkle up a few leaves and see what it smells like...I bet it smells like cherry...!

Ill try to remember to crinkle a leaf when I return this weekend so we can get to the bottom of this mystery

 

[txdon]

It looks like my bayberry bush. The leaves you put in soups. Crush the leaves and smell them.

 

[MossRoad]

Ligustrum has leaves directly opposite of each other on the stem. The OPs pictures shows the leaves staggered up the stem, so it can't be ligustrum.

 

[Threepoint]

I spent quite a bit of time researching these at your suggestion. Ive ordered these 5-Nellie R Stevens Holly Liners | eBay and am hopeful of positive results. Thanks

Will you be planting them where the local deer can easily get to them? Nellie R. Stevens hollies are nice, for sure, but here in Virginia the whitetail deer love them. Neighbors of ours planted 15 lush six-footers for privacy along an outlet road a few weeks ago, and the deer have already nearly destroyed them. And we've had a very mild winter so far! In your area, there may be enough tastier vegetation year-round for this not to be a problem.

 

[MossRoad]

It's not a Rhododendron.

 

[/pine]

Another point of identification is the minor spurs on the edges of some leaves...visible in both the OP's pics and the one in the link in post #6...

 

[MossRoad]

cherry laurel

They are quite prevalent in central FL...they will grow into a large tree...

https://www.wilcoxnursery.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Cherry-laurel-foliage.jpg

Crinkle up a few leaves and see what it smells like...I bet it smells like cherry...!

I'm thinking you're closest.

Characteristics
The leaves and branches contain high amounts of cyanogenic glycosides that break down into hydrogen cyanide when damaged, making it a potential toxic hazard to grazing livestock and children.[5] Due to this, it is considered highly deer-resistant.[9] When crushed, its leaves and green twigs emit a fragrance described as resembling maraschino cherries[11] or almond extract.

Prunus caroliniana - Wikipedia

 

[/pine]

I'm thinking you're closest.

Characteristics
The leaves and branches contain high amounts of cyanogenic glycosides that break down into hydrogen cyanide when damaged, making it a potential toxic hazard to grazing livestock and children.[5] Due to this, it is considered highly deer-resistant.[9] When crushed, its leaves and green twigs emit a fragrance described as resembling maraschino cherries[11] or almond extract.

Prunus caroliniana - Wikipedia

They are very prevalent in central and S. FL...some consider them a nuisance...they produce dark berries that black birds and robins swarm over and get intoxicated...the seeds are spread rampantly...larger specimens are weak in winds and they are prone to disease...they grow very fast...I have seen them used as hedges...