What are these plants...

[spookypony]

...and how poisonous are they?

These pictures are of various plants that are either in a hedge bordering my lawn and separating the area that I propose to use as hard standing from the rest of the lawn, or among the trees at the bottom of the lawn. I'm not too great with plants, especially British ones, and would like to ID them! Any help much appreciated!

This one, I suspect of being a rhododendron?

Another rhododendron?

Yet more rhododendron?

This thing is a tree, which is not hugely tall.

Same tree.

Another tree-y thing, a bit smaller than the last one. This one appears to have dropped a lot of leaves, though the ones on the ground are still green.

Same tree-y thing.

 

[Quantock-cob]

sorry can't really help, but why don't you take cuttings and ask a knowledgeable person at a garden centre to identify them.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

some of it looks like laurel

 

[ester]

So essentially I think you have lots of rhododendrons!

 

[Sparkly Snowdrop]

Fourth pic down I think looks like Laurel all the rest look rhododendron like to me, but I am no expert.

 

[cambrica]

You have Rhodendrons, Laurel, Cotoneaster and a Holly tree by the looks of things. The Holly sometimes doesn't have spiky leaves towards the top ao they are sometimes not recognisable as a prickly holly. The Cotoneaster is the one with the red berries.

 

[Ladyinred]

Tree thing is a spindly laurel.. very poisonous.

The others are mainly rhododendrons. Agree with cotoneaster but not sure what the lower tree is.

 

[spookypony]

Thanks all!

I'm assuming the Laurel is the last one? Is laurel identical with bay, or just related? Is it poisonous?

I suspected the shiny-leaf tree might be Holly, though those non-spiky leaves are nearer the bottom than the top. I know that one is really poisonous.

I gather rhododendrons are poisonous. How poisonous are they? Will sensible ponies avoid them? I'm guessing I should cut these down, which is a shame...

The red berries one, the Cotoneaster...how bad is that one? It looks like it should be poisonous!

 

[indie999]

some of it looks like laurel

Most of it is evergreen so will be poisonous unfortunately. I agree laurel in one ,mock orange? like a holly type, the red berry is I think Alder? I suppose if you can cut the lower branches off the tree it could stay?

Someone with green fingers will no doubt be along soon.

 

[*hic*]

Second and third pics are cotoneaster.

Picture four is laurel.

I'm tempted to say the tree-y thing is holly but I'd like to see some evidence of prickles there and am unconvinced.

Others? not sure they rhodos but if they are I'm jealous

 

[pixie]

Why don't you take the photos and some cuttings to someone at the Botanical Gardens at the University?

 

[cambrica]

Following my other reply ( sorry eating my dinner!) Im pretty sure that I have identified them correctly and I have studied Horticulture ( have my RHS) its my living. If so all of the above are toxic to horses. Back to my dinner !

 

[FfionWinnie]

I think some are prickless holly.

Rhodedendron which you have there is LETHAL and only a bit of a leave can kill.

 

[spookypony]

OK, thanks! Cambrica, is it the second plant that's the holly, and the fourth the laurel, or the other way round?

At the moment, the ponies are corraled 8h/day on the lawn, out of reach of any of these. However, I'm concerned that I've found isolated leaves of No. 4 inside the corral, presumably blown there by the wind.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

A general rule of thumb; if it's evergreen, it's poisonous. Laurels can be particularly nasty.

 

[cambrica]

The 2nd & 3rd is cotoneaster ( pronounced cot tony aster) the 4th is laurel and the tree is holly. Rhodies are very toxic but their smaller cousin the azalea even more so.

 

[s4sugar]

As above -the tree with shiney leaves is holly and safe unless you have a horse that overdoses on berries.
The top is an azalea which is highly toxic. The Rhodies & laurel are also potentially deadly and the cotoneaster could cause colic.

 

[spookypony]

Thanks again! I think they will need to go, except possibly the holly. What could I plant in the hedge instead? It will look like gappy teeth!

 

[Redequus]

Willows? Easy peasy just plant twigs & watch them grow, they can be brwosed by the neds and also soak up loads of water - very handy with our lovely weather!!

 

[cambrica]

I would probably go for a mixture of native hedgerow plants. Hawthorn, blackthorn (great for sloe gin) hazel, crab apple (malus), willow and mix with dog rose and even brambles (blackberry).
Ashridge trees.co.uk supply a stock friendly mix. I love late summer/ autumn when I can collect berries etc. Also have a large Bramley apple tree and greengages. Stay away from beech, oak and yew plus evergreens as most are toxic. Horses do not tend to eat toxic plants and many are unpalatable but I wouldn't leave anything to chance. Foxgloves as most people know are deadly and very bitter but cases are known where horses actually can develop a taste for them, I imagine that could be the case for other plants too. Native hedgerows are also so beneficial to our wildlife as are areas of nettles & docks.

 

[YorksG]

Be careful if you do decide to use blackthorn as just about every wound will go manky There appears to be some sort of something (technical that!) which covers the thorns and causes wounds to become very infected.

 

[cambrica]

Be careful if you do decide to use blackthorn as just about every wound will go manky There appears to be some sort of something (technical that!) which covers the thorns and causes wounds to become very infected.

Oooh, I will bear that in mind. I have loads of blackthorn and wait till the first frost to collect the berries for sloe gin. I will look into that

 

[cambrica]

Hmmm, it seems blackthorn is not poisonous but the tips of the thorns break off easily which can cause infection if under the skin.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Incidentally they don't tend to eat Rhodies unless there is a forage shortage.

I had it in sheep one year and they had hay at all times, but having been under snow for 6 weeks it was like they were desperate for something green and I lost quite a few.

 

[little_critter]

I thought your 1st tree thing looked like pittisporum (sp?) but could be wrong. No idea if its poisonous or not.

 

[spookypony]

Thanks for all the ideas! Will follow up on your link, cambrica.

pixie, have taken some cuttings of the tree-y things and will take to the Botanical Gardens...they're very close to my building, anyway.

 

[Bennions Field]

Def wouldnt recommend black thorn, it creeps into the field, only way to stop it is digup ALL the roots, it's taking over parts of my field hVe to have about 6ft of hedge cut each year on the inside of the field boundry, hedge is already 6-8 ft thick ! The rest of the field is a mixture of holly/hawthorn which is fab, even have some wild hops on one bit, horses love them

 

[misterjinglejay]

...and how poisonous are they?

These pictures are of various plants that are either in a hedge bordering my lawn and separating the area that I propose to use as hard standing from the rest of the lawn, or among the trees at the bottom of the lawn. I'm not too great with plants, especially British ones, and would like to ID them! Any help much appreciated!

This one, I suspect of being a rhododendron?

Yes, and poisonous.

Berries look too big and rugby ball shaped to be cotoneaster, I think?? If it is, it's poisonous.

Another rhododendron?

Type of Laurel, poisonous.

Yet more rhododendron?

Yes, and again poisonous

This thing is a tree, which is not hugely tall.

Same tree.

Laurel, again poisonous.

Another tree-y thing, a bit smaller than the last one. This one appears to have dropped a lot of leaves, though the ones on the ground are still green.

Same tree-y thing.

Possible apple/pear, but if the leaves are shiney, could be laurel again

 

[1stclassalan]

Most probable suspects are :-

1/ Portuguese Laurel - Prunus Lusitanica.

2/ & 3/ Cotoneaster species / varieries - they interbreed like rabbits!

4/ Common or Bird Cherry Laurel - they are all Prunus again but are classifies in a
subgenus of laurocerus these days.

5/ Rhododendron - most probably the common one - R. Ponticum - big bad weed!

6/ Holly - Ilex ovifolium - again they intebreed easily and throw many variations.

7/ Has got me! It could be another Laurel or a Holly or even a Privet -
Ligustrum Ovifolium but the leaves aren't in pairs as they should be.

They all look as if they've been through a hard winter and at least the two bigger plants may be suffering from Phytophora fungus attack - take them out and burn them!

All are poisonous to some degree except - Cotoneaster which is (I think ) harmless and Holly which has been used as fodder in history.

Replant with Quickthorn ( Hawthorn ) Crataegus monogyna ( get the last word? One seeded.) C. Oxyacantha has a pink tinge to the flowers - in May - it's other common name.

 

[cambrica]

Most probable suspects are :-

1/ Portuguese Laurel - Prunus Lusitanica.

2/ & 3/ Cotoneaster species / varieries - they interbreed like rabbits!

4/ Common or Bird Cherry Laurel - they are all Prunus again but are classifies in a
subgenus of laurocerus these days.

5/ Rhododendron - most probably the common one - R. Ponticum - big bad weed!

6/ Holly - Ilex ovifolium - again they intebreed easily and throw many variations.

7/ Has got me! It could be another Laurel or a Holly or even a Privet -
Ligustrum Ovifolium but the leaves aren't in pairs as they should be.

They all look as if they've been through a hard winter and at least the two bigger plants may be suffering from Phytophora fungus attack - take them out and burn them!

All are poisonous to some degree except - Cotoneaster which is (I think ) harmless and Holly which has been used as fodder in history.

Replant with Quickthorn ( Hawthorn ) Crataegus monogyna ( get the last word? One seeded.) C. Oxyacantha has a pink tinge to the flowers - in May - it's other common name.

Having a better look this morning, agree with No 1 Prunus Lusitanica.
Curious as to why you think a Phytophthora attack? Just interested I know holly will grow untidy and leggy if not kept in check but would like to know what I am failing to spot

Here's a useful and interesting link to toxic plants :-
http://www.horseweb-uk.com/features/plantmain.htm