I was mis-sold this plant wasn’t I?

[Coronilla]

So in early-lockdown desperation I bought what was labelled a Hibiscus Syracuse from a pound shop. It was basically a bare root twig in a box and I didn’t hold out much hope for it, but it’s actually doing remarkably well. However I’m pretty certain it’s not a hibiscus. It has long panicle shaped flowers and looks nothing like any google image of a hibiscus that I can find. It’s quite pretty, but I’m worried that it’s some brute that’s going to take over the border. Can anyone ID it for me?

Definitely a spirea!

Ooh thanks, I just googled and you're absolutely right. The images show them getting quite large - could it be pruned, or would that ruin the lovely draping shape?

Also, the stems are really floppy at the moment so I've tied them in to trellis / canes. Could I grow it as a sort of climber or is it best left to flop?

Oh gosh! I didn't know what this was but watch out! It took over my garden. I have spent a not inconsiderable amount of lockdown digging it out and cutting back as it had taken over half of my not insubstantial border.

Having said that I'm not a natural gardener and really should have tackled it sooner!

I’m still yanking out ruddy suckers several years after chopping out the original shrub 🙄☹️

It's very leggy OP. Once it's finished flowering I would cut it back quite a bit. Is it in a shady spot with larger plants around it? If so it may have got leggy trying to reach the light. They normally grow as a bush, not a climber.

It isn’t a climber I’m afraid, just a thuggish shrub!

pretty but not a hibiscus.

(hibiscus is very easy to propagate in winter from cuttings)

Oh I'm a bit scared now!

It's in full sun and not crowded at all, so not sure why it's so leggy. I'll definitely cut it right back after flowering, but I really don't want it to take over, so if it's a thug perhaps it's best to dig it out while it's still young?

That's the last time I buy a plant from poundland!

TBF I had a very good mock orange/philadelphus from Poundland.

I'd get rid of that pronto, @Coronilla, you're right that it's a brute - it's invasive as PPs have said. My NDN has a hedge of it along our boundary and I'm continually getting rid of suckers on my side and when I cut her grass, it's sprouting up in the lawn too. Definitely far more trouble than it's worth!

(Funnily enough I couldn't identify it either, and ended up asking on here, so I did a little scream when I saw your photo! ) I guess someone stuck the wrong label in the pot...

Mmm I've seen this type of plant growing very fast, personally I'd be digging it out, how annoying to have been mis sold this!! X

Thanks for the heads up Noodles and SarahC, I am now suitably scared and will dig out the offending plant asap. It gives me the perfect excuse to visit the garden centre to find a replacement plant

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gardening/3723094-Can-somebody-please-ID-this-blasted-plant-for-me#prettyPhoto

There were more responses after I'd gone out with the hedgetrimmers that I wasn't aware of, sticking up for the Spirea, so it does have friends in the world!

FWIW it's now looking as it did in the photographs I posted, so the hard haircut I gave it did no harm at all. I do actually think its flowers are quite pretty and would be reasonably popular with pollinators. Another plus point is its willingness to soldier on without any special treatment, but that is very much countered by its decision to take over the whole garden and mine as well, via the under the fence route...

I hope you find something lovely at the garden centre!