Shrub identification

[USAFpj]

Found this shrub in coastal NC, and would love to find out what it is. Homeowner says that it produces no berry or flower. Grows to about 12ft in height, and hard to control. Leaf has a speckled appearance, while the underside is almost silver. Any ideas?

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Looks a little like Thorny Olive, but those do have some small fruits.

 

[USAFpj]

Thank you ma'am- I wonder if the homeowner is mistaken? Because that sure looks exactly like Thorny Olive/Silverthorn. Surely all shrubs must have some flower or seed??

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Well I'm far from sure that's it, but it is common in your area (also in FL which I'm more familiar with). Best snip off a branch and take it to your county extension, a botanical garden, or a good plant nursery. If it is Thorny Olive, it's another Asian import and hard to control. We can talk about that later.....

 

[Steppenwolfe]

We call them Russian Olives.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Surely all shrubs must have some flower or seed??

Yup.

Some are hard to notice though. OTOH some folks don't notice much. If it's Silverthorn I hope you enjoy pruning.

 

[bigtiller]

Download this app onto your smart phone. Take a picture of the plant and the app will identify it.

Garden Answers - Plant Identification