Mystery plant

[loonyhiker]

Years ago my friend gave me this small plant and I can't remember what it was. Then the privet hedge took over and I thought this died. Now we are in the process of cutting down the privet to put in a new flower bed and this is what I found. This plant has grown probably 20 feet tall and grew over the privet to get to the sun. Here are the pictures of the leaves and the long stem:

?action=view&current=flowerleaves.jpgIf anyone has a clue, I'd really appreciate it. I don't know whether to cut it back and hope it eventually flowers or cut it down. Thanks.

[Jim Kingdon]

me of an edible fig tree (Ficus carica). (At least if you are in zone 7 or warmer, roughly). They do have lobed leaves and probably could grow that big.

But I'm not sure it is. I'm not sure it really looks the same (especially where the leaf stalks attach to the branches). I'm comparing with the first fig picture I found in google:

I'm far from an expert.

It might flower now that it has more light (which would make it much easier to identify). Hard to know, of course.

[mleblanca]

google:

But I'm far from an expert. Well you have been doing quite well IMO

You know, Jim, I was thinking the same thing, Fig, but you're correct, the leaf-stem attachment is not right. (I just went out and checked to be sure. And I found two ripe figs when I did!) Oh yes, figs can grow quite large; the problem here is keeping them small enough to reach the figs.

That plant looks so very familiar. I wish someone had IDed it so I wouldn't be trying to figure it out all night long

Emilie NorCal

[rachael simpson]

google:

> But I'm far from an expert.

it looks identical to my mom's white fig to me....even the stem attachment.

if that's the case, then they won't see the flowers, technically. the flowers are inside the "fruit".

check out:

[gldancer]

google:

>> But I'm far from an expert.

IMHO, I think that the leaf is more palmate than the fig. Reminds me of something, too and I can't think of it! Is there an umbrella fig?

gloria in hemlock hollow

[loonyhiker]

Thanks for all these suggestions but I don't think it is a fig. I already have a fig tree and the leaves are not really fig like. I think it is a flowering plant but just can't remember what flower.

[mleblanca]

So Loony, you are saying we are barking up the wrong tree, huh?

Well here is another 'guess' Fatsia japonica, Japanese Aralia

My JA has 7 lobes, but some sources say it can have 5, so I'm going to suggest it. The shape of the lobes is very similar. And the long, tall bare stems, with the leaves at the top. The leaves on my plant look darker, but yours has been growing inside a privet, so.........

What zone are you?

Emilie NorCal