Oleander bush or something else?

[frdnicholas]

We inherited this bush when we bought the house. It flowers pink in clusters and I was wondering if it's an oleander or something else?

 

[frdnicholas]

Here's another bush I'm hoping you folks can identify?

 

[marlingardener]

Your first is an oleander. All parts of the oleander are toxic, so if you have shrubbery chewing pets or toddlers who put anything and everything in their mouths, you may want to remove it.
The second could be oak leaf hydrangea, but this is just a guess.

 

[Marck]

The second plant looks like the leaves of Confederate Rose (Hibiscus mutabilis), though without flowers that is tentative guess.

 

[Tetters]

I think the Hibiscus might be a good guess -if tentative, and think that Hydrangea leaves are opposite

 

[frdnicholas]

We thought the first picture might be oleander; my neighbor has an oak leaf hydrangea and they don't look the same. If it's hibiscus, it would be much bigger than any I've ever seen. I so appreciate the help from the folks on this forum!

 

[Tetters]

Could this be a plant in the Mallow family?

 

[frdnicholas]

I googled mallow plants and didn't see any that resembled what I have growing.

 

[Marck]

Well, Confederate Rose (Hibiscus mutabilis) is in the Mallow Family (Malvaceae)...
It is possible for H. mutabilis to grow up to 15 feet or more, so I don't think your plant's size would rule it out.
What is strange is that it isn't blooming in Summer, but there are many reasons that a plant won't bloom even in season.

 

[Tetters]

Hibiscus mutabilis leaf doesn't seem so pointed as the plant in question My very first thought for this pant was Malvaceae, but most of that family that I am familiar with has far more rounded leaves.
This is the interesting part of a multinational forum - finding plants that don't necessarily live here in the UK.

 

[frdnicholas]

Could the fact that we cut it back last fall affect the blooming issue? We've also had a ton of rain this spring and summer. It is also a late bloomer, usually it blooms in August so we'll see what happens.