I see these shrubs EVERYWHERE and no one knows what they are lol

Hello, I see these shrubs all of the country and I have been asking people at nurseries what they are and they are unsure. I took pics, one of them from a local Sonic restaurant lol, and another in someone's yard I passed. I do not think they grow flowers or fruits, they remain that nice bright green color year round. They seem like they can get really large when not pruned but people are able to keep them small too without them stressing out. Any idea? You guys are my only hope Thanks.

 

try Euonymus fortunei and see what you think.

 

Interesting... Unfortunately I am not a resident of North America, (so not familiar with plant life of your region). Otherwise I would have been able to assist you better.

But it looks like a evergreen hedge that we have here. Only the leaves of ours are more rounded, (not jaggy edged). And the color is a lot darker green - Otherwise all characteristics you mentioned are the same. Ours get propagated by cuttings, but once a year it does produce small white flowers too. It doesn't have any thorns, and the leaves are a bit juicy. Stem is often green. Unless it becomes really mature, then it turns woody.

In my environment which is Southern Pakistan right at the shores of the Arabian Sea. It is always mercilessly hot throughout the year. So our hedge is always thriving. But I've seen the exact same plant doing well in central Pakistan too, where winters can be pretty hard. So it has a huge tolerance.

Now the funny thing is, that whenever I tried to ask someone what it's botanical name is - I still am yet to receive a satisfactory answer... Because everyone just refers to it as *hedge*.

I think you accidentally stumbled upon the greatest garden mystery that there could be! Everyone seems to be using this plant everywhere - Yet nobody seems to know what it's botanical name is.

 

Hey I think you may be right about that. I actually planted Golden Euonymus at my other house and when I google the name you provided I see that euonymus has a lot of different varieties. It is also interesting on Google search it doesn't show the entire plant only part of it so really hard to tell.

 

Yeah it's not 100 perfect but that has to be it:

https://www.gardenia.net/plant/euonymus-fortunei-coloratus

 

I cannot determine the size of the leaves from your foto. They somewhat resemble a myrtle type, but also ligustrum leaves.
Good luck with your search.

 

Hello, that is Griselinia littoralis. I have been growing it for years. There is also a variegated form which is less vigorous and yet very attractive. It is a lovely plant for hedging, and is hardy. It is soft and easy to clip and so makes a good subject for topiary if you fancy. All in all, one of my favourite shrubs

 

Missed you!

 

Thanks a lot Though when searching Google I notice the Griselinia littoralis leaves do not have those jagged ridges like the ones in my pics.

 

Oh yes, so they do - try Camellia then ..... I still like Griselinia though

 

I have this little shrub growing wild in one corner of my yard. No idea what it is. It's been here since the house was being built. But I have seen this same plant elsewhere, purned on the edges of walkways in parks. It's beautiful when taken care of. I like it's two colour combination of green leaves with a little lime yellow centre. I'd love to propagate it, but don't yet know how to. This plant was in a terrible state of neglect. But I've been watering it the last two weeks, so it has started to flower now.

I'd love to learn more about such plants.

 

This is one of many handy tools for identification:

https://www.picturethisai.com/

 

Yes Anita, the hedge I was talking about here looks exactly like your picture. Same white flowers with purple wires from the center.

Only difference is that ours doesn't have a yellow center. Otherwise everything is exactly the same. Even the woody stem.

Propagating it is easy, by stem cuttings of about 10 inches to a foot. The woody stem is actually green from the inside. So when the cuttings are placed in soil - It roots in about 3 to 4 weeks.

 

I asked another nursery and they said it's a Euonymus Manhattan and I think I agree since I saw that shrub before asking them and thought "Hey that looks a lot like it". The reason I had to keep looking is because the Griselinia is hard to find except for Europe and New Zealand so the fact it's so common around here I figured it had to be something more local.

 

I looked up Manhatton online, here's a picture.
this picture is Camellia, which has the jagged edges, as @Zigs pointed out to me the other day.
When your plants flower you may be able to make a better diagnosis.
It is such a pity you are unable to find the Griselinia there as it is such a useful and robust shrub.