Chicken bald back

[rabbitfluff]

Hi, does anyone know what this plant is please? (sorry it's a link I couldn't get it to show up in the post)

 

 

And would it stand being cut right back at the front in the near future!? It's at my new house and is growing right where I need to put my greenhouse but I think it's maybe a bit big to dig out and move?

[Olly]

Can't view it too well on my phone, is it a weigela? Most shrubs will tolerate being cut back quite hard - if you don't know what it is and don't particularly care for it, why worry - cut it back and it'll do one of two things!

[Forestchook]

I'm no expert but the close up put me in mind of laurel. The thick waxy looking leaves plus the purple berries? The leaves are more pointed than the laurel I'm familiar with but a member of the laural family would be my guess. If I'm right I believe they are pretty hardy. The ones in our garden take the periodical massacres we give them without any problems.

[Daphne]

It looks like a member of the laurel family to me too - thick glossy leaves, tiny white flowers (bee magnet) and black berries, although the leaves are narrower and more pointed than the laurel I'm used to as well.

 

If it is a laurel it will be tough and hardy and if its in the way I'd just go for it. If you are particularly keen on it, then have a google to see how you are meant to propagate laurels and do whatever it says just in case it keels over

[sjp]

if it's one of the laurel family then it'll survive a real hard prune

it could also be a thorn less holly but I think the leaves are to pointed

[jasperaliceuk]

Think I can see little flowers - are they very strong smelling? - Could be a Sarcococca.

 

Sue

[clucker1]

I think sarococca too. Flowers will be dying off now I would think.

[Grandmashazzie]

Or some type of Box,Pittosporum or Ilex.

[Valkyrie]

Sarcococca:

 

http://greenforks.com/2013/01/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-january/gbbd-january-05-sarcococca-confusa/

 

Now I hope the linky works - I only learnt the other day!