5th summer here. This has shown no sign of life until now...what is it?

[user1471530109]

As the title says. There is evidence that there was some kind of climber with thick stems growing up the trellis attached to an old shed. Last year, to cover up the dead plant, I hung some hanging wall pockets and filled with bedding plants.

Now it seems to be showing signs of life. There are tiny leaf buds (I assume) appearing. Any idea what it is? Plant ID app can't help. It's already over 5ft.

Honeysuckle?

Perhaps something that didn't like being baked in the sun and appreciated the cool shade that the bedding plants gave it?

I've discovered both a Virginia creeper and a climbing hydrangea that had hung on for what must have been years (or at least, I didn't plant them) in less than optimal conditions, completely smothered by ivy - and then come back to life once the ivy competition was removed.

Hard to tell from a stem.

Wait until the leaves come out.

Clematis likes shaded roots.

I'm assuming those dead stems/branches you can see are the same plant. None of my clematis have stems like that. Or my honeysuckle for that matter (they are both youngish though).

I'm quite excited! It is west facing so will bear the sun thought in mind. Whatever it is must have been there for donkeys years as the roots go into crazy paving and concrete which I'm guessing has been there for decades as the shed is on its last legs.

My guess is Wisteria

That's really odd, my first thought was is it's tree seedling. The stem although an odd shape looks very like the ash tree seedling that pop up in my garden. Watching with interest.

Think ash seedling (unconnected to the creeper) is most likely! Bark and buds look OK. Buds should be in opposite pairs- are they? And is the terminal bud blackish?

Failing that, wisteria. Not clematis for the reasons you give.

I was thinking wisteria too, based purely on them being contrary awkward plants and that take years to settle if they have been upset. Hard to tell from your picture though. Try posting again with leaves in a couple of weeks time?

Passionfruit vine?

I also think it has nothing to do with the old dead creeper stem, i also think it looks like an ash seedling.

You lot are bloody good! It does indeed look like an ash seedling/sapling.

I'm gutted as I was hoping for gorgeous wisteria!

Would it really climb up trellis like that though?

I don't think it's climbing up the trellis, it's getting entangled in it and trying to find it's way out to daylight.

I would wait for it to come out a bit more. I have ash seedlings (thanks neighbours!) and they haven't grown that much before leaves come out.

@Northernlurker it's the height that's stumped me. It's nearly as tall as me. Very windy stem and also green. I had no idea it could be a tree! But I do have to say that it does seem to match up to the ash seedling description (not the height I don't think though).
Unfortunately if it is ash, it will have to come out as it's far too close to the house.

This is the second potential tree seedling I have found this week! I had another thread on the other one. All near the house.

Thanks for everyone's help. I will update once the leaves are out

So, the leaves have come out...

Plant ID app suggests ash. Well done to those who guessed. Now I'm going to have to use weed killer as it's impossible to dig out in the concrete!

If you just chop it back right at the base, it almost certainly won't grow back. But there might still be more seeds there waiting to grow.

Thanks @TheSpottedZebra . I'll give that a go first 👍