What is it?
I passed this shrub yesterday and once again I wondered what it was called.
The leaves are shaped like holly, yet in high summer it produces a mass of colour with trumpet shaped flowers. It is the only bush like it that I have ever seen and the householder was unable to give me a name for it.
Magpie! Are you familiar with it?
UPDATE: Through the wonderful world of blogging friends we didn’t have to wait long! Desfontainea spinosa is your answer. Thank you Nelly and please pass on a great big hug to Bert the sleepy clarinet playing horticulturist for his wisdom! Now give that man another slice of cake!
||///////_____
Now don’t forget to come back at 5p.m. for a spot of loose blogging…. It was my turn to pick the topic this week!
Alice said,
July 31, 2009 at 6:09 am
I have no idea what it is but it sure is beautiful. If you ever acquire a name for it, do let us know.
steph said,
July 31, 2009 at 7:20 am
No idea of the name of that shrub
Nice though.
GM,
If you loose blog, does it mean you get called a LOOSE blogger?
Nelly said,
July 31, 2009 at 8:08 am
Desfontainea - Grannymar. Just checked it with Bert. He is a horticulturist y’know. Although all the other horticulturists are out of their beds by now. He’s a sleepy horticulturist.
Nelly said,
July 31, 2009 at 8:12 am
And that would be desfontainea spinosa in full.
Grannymar said,
July 31, 2009 at 8:53 am
@Alice - Thanks to the wonderful world of blogging friends we didn’t have to wait long! Desfontainea spinosa is your answer.
@Steph - A LOOSE blogger? More like a loose cannon in my case!
@Nelly - Please thank the sleepy clarinet playing horticulturist for his wisdom! I hope you didn’t wake him up to ask.
Darlene said,
July 31, 2009 at 9:01 am
Okay, now we have the botanical name, but what do non-horticulturists like me call it? Maybe a trumpet vine?
Grannymar said,
July 31, 2009 at 9:05 am
Darlene,
Well the the Holly looking bush with the flowers, of course!
Nick said,
July 31, 2009 at 9:13 am
A wonderful sight. it looks like some very exotic Christmas decoration….
Nelly said,
July 31, 2009 at 9:15 am
I did so wake him up, Hey Bert what d’ye call that holly looking thing with the long apicoty-orange flowers we saw at Castle Kennedy? But never fear - he dropped right off again.
Grannymar said,
July 31, 2009 at 9:25 am
@Nick - I would prefer a tree like that at Christmas.
@Nelly -
Save the cake for later so! 
steph said,
July 31, 2009 at 10:09 am
Grannymar
I’m trying to avoid you being called a ‘loose woman’. That’s all
Baino said,
July 31, 2009 at 11:02 am
Weird looking thing. That’ll keep the cats out of your garden. Ouch! Bed you didn’t know my nick name is “Nelly” TA-DAAAAA!
Kate said,
July 31, 2009 at 11:40 am
Its very pretty!
Nancy said,
July 31, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I think it is called the candy corn bush. Do you have that sweet in Ireland? We give it to the children at Halloween..
Nelly said,
July 31, 2009 at 3:31 pm
The non-botanical name is Chilean Holly which I’ve just looked up.
wisewebwoman said,
July 31, 2009 at 4:31 pm
*gobsmack*
That was the da’s hedge!!!
Up Cork!
XO
WWW
Grannymar said,
July 31, 2009 at 4:55 pm
@Steph - The only thing loose about me are my teeth!
@Baino - Nothing keeps the cats out! I knew you have a nickname.
@Kate - That it is.
@Nancy - I am not familiar with them.
@Nelly - Thanks Nelly, you are a mine of information.
Rumuuser said,
July 31, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Truly amazing how the blog world works. Lovely photographs too.
Grannymar said,
July 31, 2009 at 5:34 pm
@WWW - I don’t believe it! I never saw it anywhere else.
@Ramana - If you want to find an answer…. ask the blogging fraternity!
Magpie11 said,
July 31, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Here I am…late again! Chilean Holly I think!
It’s interesting that Chilean Glory vine (Eccremocarpus scaber) has similar flowers but in racemes IIRC)
Magpie11 said,
July 31, 2009 at 9:34 pm
You know I should always read ALL the responses before making mine shouldn’t I?
Grannymar said,
July 31, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Magpie,
What was that important piece of information imparted by school teachers????
Read all the questions first! 
Magpie11 said,
August 1, 2009 at 6:27 pm
But that was questions…these were answers!
Grannymar said,
August 1, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Magpie,
kate said,
August 6, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I’m a little late with this..
I have these plants in my garden! Mexican Vine is the common name, they are so easy to grow. They now cover a whole wall and fence, in a sheltered spot they withstand the frost and snow. (mine lived through last winter)
Grannymar said,
August 6, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Another Kate, welcome on board.
I wonder if Chilean Holly and are one and the same plant or slight variations? No matter it is a lovely specimen.