I had to google "hydrangea relative" "red stem" and it still took me about 3 or 4 tries. For a second I thought it might be the even more elusive Pileostegia viburnoides, but there was no mention of red stems on that one.

I guess we call both the H peteolaris and the Schizophragma climbing hydrangea because that is one mouthful of a name.

What a good plant detective.
Plant One - Schizophragma hydrangeoides 'Rosea' This pink flowering vine blooms best in full sun, mine has yet to bloom but has been a moderate grower 3-4' a year. Pressumably the blooms are very large but frankly I like the vine enough that its flowers aren't all that important to me.
Plant Four dtd I don't know what conifer you saw at Mahoneys but I am nearly certain it wasn't this one as I know you are familiar with this tree and may have even seen them growing in their native country. Clue My tree at three years old 18"h x 18"w is relatively still in it's infancy as it is believed these trees will live for 1000 years and are considered living fossils.

Well, heck, kt, is Plant Number Four a sequoia then?

Hi dawiff,
Long time no see, good guess but it is not a sequoia. It's branches are razer sharp and cones can weigh as much as 17 lbs. kt

Araucaria araucana (Pehuén or Monkey-puzzle):

The hardiest species in the conifer genus Araucaria. It is native to central Chile and west central Argentina, and is an evergreen tree growing to 40 m tall and 2 m trunk diameter. Because of species' great age it is sometimes described as a living fossil.

I had to resort to google again, but the photo on wikipedia matched pretty perfectly.

I do think this is what I saw at Mahoneys ... being somewhat of a living fossil myself, I think I need one of these trees. How fast do they grow?

By the way, I've prowled all over my garden, camera in hand, and can't find a single thing that would perplex anybody. Nothing in the plant kingdom, anyway.

Yes indeed this is a Monkey Puzzle Tree, which has a pretty good ten year success rate in our territory (Thanks to Polly Hill Arboretums specimens). I bought mine tube size from Forest Farm and planted them (yes two) in a southern facing protected location with irrigation. They have done wonderfully in our zone which to date has been horticulturally unpredictable. Most home owners prefer growing a male tree as the cones on the females can weigh as much as seventeen pounds which tend to break branches as they fall, but it may be hard to find a nursery that hasnÂt started one from seed.
SOOOOOOOO sorry dtdÂ. I am not letting you off the hook a few suggestions might be that fabulous plant by your front stairs that is airy and causes confusion with your neighbors, then of course there is my favorite plant of yours by the pool, now back to your front entry garden that has at least three species at all times that have not likely been seen by anyone on GW then letÂs talk about the best tree specimen I have ever seen when you first walk into the back garden, then letÂs talk about the oldest tree specimen of a rare but coveted tree I have ever seen (while looking at the front of your house to the left.) Hmmmm......nothing to take a photo of???? kt

Just noticed this thread and missed all the fun of guessing.
After the fact (of course!) could say that I correctly ID #1 Schizophrama cause I have several on my own and #4 Araucaria cause I'm very tempted to buy Cryptomeria japonica 'Araucarioides' when Olivers will have a sale next weekend and did some research on it. :-)

Oh shoot, I almost guessed monkey puzzle tree (no, really!), but the other comments and the clue actually threw me off. I had no idea they were conifers or that they lived so long or were considered living fossils. I saw a large one a few years ago at a botanical garden in England when I visited my MIL.

I'm with dtd. There is nothing in my garden that would perplex anyone. There is plenty that perplexes me, though, i.e., plants with homemade markers that have washed off, plants that grow well in one location but die in another, similar location, how to keep groundhogs and bunnies from chowing down on my plants, etc., etc., etc.

Darn, I missed the game too. #1 doesn't look like my schizophragma. I think mine is 'Moonlight', maybe the leaf form is supposed to be different on the two cultivars???

I have comptonia all over my woodland edges, but its kinda scraggly looking and not very appealing. One time at a garden center, a nice pot of it caught my eye and I bought it. I kicked myself when I got home and realized I had tons of it naturally. Ironically, the purchased one died. Mother natures' do fine.

Are we continuing the game in the same thread? I could only find one possibly perplexing plant picture (PPPP)

{{gwi:1078186}}

Here's #2. THis may be too easy, but we'll see.

{{gwi:1078188}}

here's my third and final:

{{gwi:1078190}}

#1 is Variegated fiveleaf aralia ((Acanthopanax/Eleutherococcus sieboldianus 'Variegatus').
#2 Viburnum. V.sargentii?

#1 right on. good going. fyi, it died to the ground over the winter. I didn't expect that. But it is growing back again this year. Still smaller in height than last year, but I think more stems.

#2 yes, but I was hoping for the cultivar name. AFAIK, it is *THE* cultivar to have.

Wendy, Onondaga?
Haven't seen one around here neither in commerce nor in landscaping, but remember seeing something very similar in US National Arboretum in Washington. Just guessing.

Good guess George! Out here I saw CVS planted an entire row of them along the roadway. That was a welcome surprise to see something other than the standard commercial fare.

Ooh! I guessed one right! That's a shock, lol. I knew the aralia.

That viburnum is gorgeous! I've never seen one of those. How nice!

:)
Dee

Wendy you stumped me on all three. What is the fruit and fall color like on the V. 'Onodaga'? The seed pods are really cool and somehow familar but I just can't remember. kt

kt, I haven't seen fruit (yet?) on V. 'Onodaga'. It might need the right companion that I don't have. Not only is the fall color good, (maybe better in time or with more sun), the new growth is tipped in red and is striking. I think thats what attracted me to it at the nursery.

{{gwi:258138}}

So nothing on #3.. hmmm... clue time.

dainty spring white flowers in May. The seed pods have 4 "wings". They turn brown and may provide a little bit of winter interest.

question on wild sasparilla... Is it likely to be found along roadsides in New England? How many leaves on each plant? I see something quite like that amongst the poison ivy that I walk by and it seems to fight well with the P.I.. I thought maybe it was P.I morphed into 5 leaves. It seems VERY aggressive.

I found a bunch more PPPP but they are still in my camera. Maybe someone else will start another game until I get to upload them.

off to do some early morning cool weeding, then to visit Mom who lives not far from Mahoney's!!! woo-hoo! Going to look for monkey puzzle

Wendy,
Your V. 'Onodaga' is a real beauty the fall color is outstanding. Yes wild sasparilla is likely to be found growing amongst poison ivy and actually when it first comes up in the spring the shiny bronze colored leaves are hard to distinguish from poison Ivy. It has not been very aggressive for me and easily pulled from areas that I don't want it.

The seed pods are really cool and somehow familar but I just can't remember
Well now I recall why the seeds are familar I have this very delicate tree Halesia tetraptera - Carolina Silverbell.

Aha! I wondered the same thing as Wendy. There is a wild area at the side of the road on the way to Mahoney's in Winchester, where there is a lot of poison ivy, and when I drove past the other day, I thought I saw something that looked a lot like kt's wild sarsparilla there.

kt, did you buy yours, or did you find it growing on your land and cultivate it?

Wendy, possible pollinators for 'Onodaga':
-'Susquehanna' - also a US National Arboretum selection of the species that considered to be the most heavy flower and fruit producer, large, 8-10',
-'Chiquita' - MN University selection, dwarf 3-4' copy of the species, red berries, orange fall color,
-'name escapes me', but with yellow fruits.

Happy fruiting :-)

I have Onondaga. George, so you have it? If not, is there a way I can bring you a cutting when (not if) I come to see your collection?
Marie

Marie, I'd love to have it.
On one condition only: you'll take with you one of the two of my V.dentatum 'Autumn Jazz' (currently about 2x2') cause I'll have no space to plant Onondaga if AJ is not removed. Truly.

Dear Mr. ego45 6bCT:

It has come to our attention that reference was made to removal of a viburnum from your property.

This is simply not acceptable. We suggest you solicit the services of a superlative shrub specialist to support you; if you are unable to procure said services, one will be assigned to you.

Viburnums are excellent plants alone. They are exceptional plants when paired properly. Rather than radical removal, there should be additional space made for an appropriate amour for Autumn Jazz®, AND...add 'Onondaga' and your choice of partnering V. sargentii.

Should there be more talk of vanishing viburnums, viceroys will vent various vicious eviscerations, vindictively.

And we're not talking Lepidopterae...

George, you're on the spot!

No one else has anything perplexing? I found plenty. I think. Ready?

These are some seedlings my Herbaceous Plants (night school) instructor donated to the class. His daytime students started them earlier in the season. I was the only one who got the 1st one because I was the only person who could name it (genus,species) -- as long as pronunciation didnÂt count!!! LOL!

plants 1,2,3,4:
{{gwi:1078193}}

another view:
{{gwi:1078195}}

plant 5 (my bad):
{{gwi:1078196}}

plant 6: (bonus points for cultivar!)
{{gwi:1078197}}

plant 7
{{gwi:1078198}}

plant 8 (same genus as plant 7)
{{gwi:1078199}}

plant 9 (sorry bad pic)
{{gwi:1078200}}

plant 10
{{gwi:1078201}}

plant 11
{{gwi:1078202}}

plant 12 (another bad pic sorryÂ)
{{gwi:1078203}}

Plant #2: Baptisia australis?
Plant #12: Podophyllum peltatum (aka Mayapple)?

#10 looks familiar, but I can't come up with a name right now.

Oh, is #1 a Dicentra spectabilis (bleeding heart) seedling?

V-valley,
Warning from Viburnum-police is duly noted.
Will ask permission from the neighbor to plant them on his property :-)
BTW, should I assume that native V.dentatum work as a polinator for AJ?

Vivacious Viburnum ,
Thanks for stopping by I am particularly appreciative of your two cents now knowing you are on dial up and how long it took you to read through this thread. I was however hoping to pick your brain regarding Viburnum nudum 'Brandywine' that both idabean and I bought on a shopping spree this spring. We were told by the nurserymen that Viburnum n. ÂWinterthur would be a good fruiting partnerÂ.and amazing fruit it is. My question is I have found that Viburnum n. ÂWinterthur is very short lived in my highly acidic soil??? I have tried six of these shrubs in different locations over ten plus years and have noted the shrub begins by dying off by a third (vole damage?) then gets distinctive circular raised impressions on the branchesÂI can post a photo if you think this might help. runk
Wendy,
HmmmmÂ.you have some real puzzlers
Plant #11 Schizophragma hydrangeoides 'Moonlight,'
Plant #12 Angelica Giga
Plant #6 Hey IÂll do anything for bonus points Clerodendrum trichotomum 'Variegatum' Â variegated Glory Bower.

#1. Dicentra spectabiles,
#2. Something from fabaceous family, possibly baptisia,
#3. ??? Lilium tigrinum????
#4. -----
#5. Fallopia japonica (Polygonum cuspidatum) 'Variegata'
#6. First notion was for Redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea) 'Baileyi' or 'Isanti', but white margins on a leaves are too good to be true for it. Cornus alba then.
#7 and 8. Threadleaf sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera) of some kind.
#9. ----
#10. Kirengeshoma palmata ssp. koreana.
#11. Schizophragma hydrangeoides 'Moonlight'.
#12. -----

How I'm doing? :-))

Almost halfway there

George and Dawiff tied for lead at 2 apiece

#2: Baptisia australis (dawiff)
#5: Fallopia japonica Âvariegata (kt) (I am only growing it in shade in a difficult spot right up against big tree. I tried part of it in a bit more sun a few years ago and it took off in a very scary way!)
#6: Cornus alba (George )
#11: Schizophragma hydrangeoides ÂMoonlight (George)
#12: Podophyllum peltatum (aka Mayapple) (dawiff) - IÂve been growing it for a few years, but that is the first "apple" IÂve ever seen. Either I forgot to look or they were too young. I missed the flowers too.

Wendy, Could # 1 be a Thalictrum aquilegifolium seedling?

I realized after reading George's post that #10 did remind me of Kirengeshoma. But looks like that is not correct. I bet it's something with palmata as the second part of its name, though. :-)

I've had three Mayapples for about four years now, and have never seen fruit or flowers on mine either.

Dawiff, #1 is not thalictrum.

Those Mayapples really hide it well. Did you look closely recently? I just found that fruit yesterday.

#10: actually it does not have palmata in its name, but to me it looks similar to Mayapple foliage and it does have a piece of the mayapple botanical name in its genus name. very unusual plant. May not even have a common name.

#9 is also fabacea family.

#7 is eastern species #8 is western version.

#3 white flowers

#1 native to China

#4 Patriots WR

#10: I just learned that peltate leaf means shield shape. I don't really see a shield there, but maybe so.

Hmmmmmmm........#10: Darmera peltata?

good guess. but no. Is that umbrella plant? I've wanted that one for awhile. I guess I am attracted to shields :-)

Dang! I keep coming back here hoping someone else has made a guess about Number 10, and googling stuff with shield-shaped leaves, but I haven't come up with anything that looks right yet. I want to know what it is! BTW, those white flowers standing above it ARE part of it, right? I think I have a thing about shield-shaped foliage too. I really like the way that looks. Is it a native? Does it like shade?

#10 rodgersia?

#9 indigofera?

I'm truly perplexed by #10 too.

#4 Moss (thanks for the clue) is there a variety name?
#7 & 8 Cytisus? Tough to tell from the pics, but look like they could be broom.
#1 possibly in the ranunculus family? (very wild stab)

thyme2dig,
I think you are right on a spot: Indigofera kirilowii (Chinese indigo).
Wendy, if it's indigofera, does it die to the ground for you and what condition do you provide for it?
My two attempts to grow it resulted in a two dead body.

#10 was probably not really fair. its impossible to guess. its so unusual. I can't think of any clues to make it easier. It is Peltoboykinia watanabei. I found it at Plant Delights and got taken in by some alluring description. Its not showing on their website any more. There's another species that has a shiny leaf that looks cool too. It is a native.

#9 sorry, not Indigofera. clue: eat your veggies!!!

#4 yes it is moss. irish or scotch?

#7 & #8 weeping threadleaf forms of extremely common conifer

#1 genus can be woody or herbaceous (pic is woody)

#3 evergreen perennial

Is #1 a tree peony seedling?

#9: Snow peas? Except it looks like they are growing in a shady bed, and I thought most veggies needed full sun.

#7 & #8: Threadleaf or weeping arborvitae?

#3: Dianthus?

Well, shucks, is #1 a baby tree peony?

Yes, #1 is baby tree peony

#9 no, not snow pea but you're close. Recent gw discussion on this perennial by genus and specis (mine is different species than the GW discussion, but I didn't know that at the time)

#7 & #8 yes arborvitae, but they are vastly different plants. why? size matters.

#3, no not dianthus. halloween + N.E. University

#3 myst be candytuft... great, if cryptic, clue!