[Lawn Lad]

I'm visiting in TN (from Ohio) and I'm looking at a hedge (covering a telecommunications box) that reminds me of a leather leaf viburnum from up north, but I'm told the plant is evergreen - or, does not loose it's leaves.

The hedge as is stands now is about 6.0' tall - pruned, leaves are 2.0" to 3.0" long by 1.0" to 1.5" wide, dark green shiny leaf with smooth margins (but on some leaves it resembles resembles ilex meservae - size/color and edges/margin of leaf). The underside of the leaf has a whitish tint - but shows through to the dark green on the top side of the leaf. It's a fast grower, thick hedge. Hence it remdinds me viburnum.

I'd like to know what the plant is so I can find out the best time to suggest restorative type pruning. It needs to be cut back quite a bit (growing into the driveway). I don't recommend a hard pruning right now if there is a better time in this climate for this plant.

Any ideas of what it might be?

[Greensmith]

Any fruits visible? a cherry laurel? maybe osmanthus (the holly like leaf).

[Lawn Lad]

No visible fruits, and told it does not bloom or get fruit on it.

[phototropic1]

Unfortunately, I don't think I am good enough to ID this plant with the limited information. Are the leaves alternate or opposite. If they are alternate, it might be another species of Ilex. If they are opposite, it could be Osmanthus heterophyllus (Holly leaved Osmanthus). But in any case, you probably want to avoid any heavy restorative pruning this time of year. I would be hesitant to do it here and I am in central Mississippi. It would be best to wait until late winter or early spring until just before the leaf buds start to expand.
The flowers on both Ilex or Osmanthus are easily overlooked. If it was a male Ilex it would not fruit.

[agla]

leather leaf viburnum - It is evergreen in milder climates.

[Lawn Lad]

Okay, in daylight, opposite branching. The leaves have more of holly look, but not spikey margins like the blue or china holly I'm used to seeing up north.

I definetely don't believe it's viburnum based on the look of the leaves. The new growth is a cocoa brown color (light white specs), with older branches looking more like a muted brown.

If I had a camera I'd take a picture. Maybe we'll take a clipping to the garden center.

[trees]

Sounds like Elaeagnus ebbingii (aka Ebbing's Silverberry). It does bloom, usually at around this time of year. The blooms are not showy in the slightest (you have to look for them), but have a very nice, clove-like fragrance.

You can prune that plant whenever...

Leatherleaf viburnum is evergreen around here, but doesn't perform well in full sun, it's much more of a shade shrub.

What part of Tennessee are you in? There's a pretty big diversity in planting zones in this state (zone 5 through 8, depending on where you're at).

[Lawn Lad]

Nashville. I'm almost certain not a viburnum, given the slight holly like shiny/slightly spiny leaf.

[trees]

Are the stems brown and pubescent? If so, then Elaeagnus it is...

Oh, and, Lawn Lad...

I grew up east of Cleveland and my family still lives there (in Perry). My dad, for his retirement job works on the grounds crew at Jacob's Field. What a game last night!!! Go tribe!

[Lawn Lad]

Trees - can I prune then now or should I instruct the owner to wait until a more ideal time? Ideally it appears there would be some serious heading back. It's gotten quite woody from the trimming and is encroaching on a driveway. While passable now, it should be headed back to allow for better and continued pruning down the road.

I'm from the east side as well - albeit, Perry is quite a bit east of Cleveland - lake county. We head out to the Perry area for plants; great nursery area.

[trees]

Go ahead and cut it...

The only reservation I'd have is that it may force some new growth that won't be hardened off before the freeze, but that plant is pretty doggone tough, so I'd say do it.