Mystery Leaf
 

Does anyone recognize this leaf?

I bought this bare-root plant from Costco a couple of years ago. The first year the lawn guys weed wacked it all year. I got new lawn guys this year, and it has finally been allowed to grow.

It is supposed to be a lilac bush, but I haven't seen a lilac with this kind of leaf before. The largest leaf is about 4" x 6," and it is crinkly.

exactly crinkly was my thought too. someone will pop in with the answer soon I'm sure.

Lilacs typically grow rather slowly and even if grafted onto root stock, it is generally a smoother leaved plant.

I tried a google image search and it suggested kratom -- while appearances are similar I very seriously doubt costco would be selling or that it would survive winter!

I'm wondering if whatever it is, it was mislabeled, or perhaps an opportunistic plant managed to get safely into growable and protected soil. Do you have any alder species near you? Or perhaps beech?? The leaves seem darker green than alder and more textured, I don't have experience with beech trees but some of the leaf pictures were close.

I’m sure that this plant is the bare-root plant that came out of the package from Costco. I don’t think it is a lilac.

crinkled with smooth edges. so far can't find a photo to match.
recently someone on here took a screen shot or what ever and posted it online and found an answer that way. Good luck.

I took your picture and used Plantnet ( free app for plant identification) , it came back as American Pokeweed.

Oh goodness, smart people.

Looks like my hydrangea leaves. Lilac leaves are smooth.

Attachment 645546Attachment 645547
My Google search came back as a big daddy hydrangea. When I saw your picture, my thoughts were hydrangea. Google lense is a wonderful feature. I use it often for fabric. The picture on the right is the big daddy hydrangea. It will be interesting to see what it does grow.

Take your photo to a local plant nursery or garden shop and ask them. On the other hand, you may already have your answer. ;)

I agree with taking it to a plant nursery or garden shop. However, I don't think that it is American Pokeweed, Krato, or hydrangea. To me it looks like heliotrope, but it is a tender perennial so probably not in your area. There is a list of Nurseries & Gardening in Manasses at https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=gar...as%2C+VA+20110 I also thought of an extension office which should be able to identify, but don't know the correct procedure. I think I would call or email and see if they can help -- https://www.pwcva.gov/department/vir...ture-help-desk

I was going to a plant nursery today anyway so I took a leaf for them to identify. It is still a mystery. The expert (who claims to know every leaf in the world... eyeroll) claims that it is not a pokeweed or hydrangea. He thinks Costco sold me a weed. Another employee will do some more research and call me if she finds out anything.

A neighbor asked her gardening forum, and they came back with Heliotropium as OurWorkbench suggested. But they are only periennial in Zones 9 & 10. I'm in Zone 7 so since these plants have been planted for two years, I don't think that's it. Her link to the Virginia Extension Office shows a local office near to me so I may take it there.

The leaves resemble some varieties of Leatherleaf Viburnum.

A friend who is a landscaper thought it could be in the peperomia family, but those don't like Zone 7 either.

Whatever it is, the leaves are very pretty. I'm still curious about what it is. I'll leave it alone and watch what happens.

OH that is not a weed. Plant it somewhere and just be surprised!

It has been planted in my yard for two years. I’m letting it stay there to see what develops.

As soon as I saw it I thought it couldn't be a lilac but I have no idea what it is. Pretty leaves.

It looks like Basil to me, but I’m no expert!

It looks a bit like some variety of potato plant to me
maybe a red potato like this?
https://photos1.blogger.com/hello/27...%20flowers.jpg
or this potato?
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/wp-...tato-plant.jpg

wonder what it really is...fun mystery...

Thank you OurWorkBench for this link. There is a walk-in Horticultural Help Desk staffed by master gardeners at an office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension close to me. I went there with sample leaves and pictures of the plant. The first volunteer didn't have a clue, but he passed it on to another master gardener who called me back today.

Her first thought was that it couldn't possibly be a lilac. After some research she decided it is a variety of Preston Lilac (Syringa Prestoniae). There are thousands of varieties, and she could not find exactly which variety I have. She thinks it will be a few more years before it blooms. It has grown two feet this year, and that is the typical growth rate for this lilac. It will grow 10 feet high and 10 feet wide at maturity.

This is exciting. I have a very unique bush in my yard.

With that and your Sassafras you are going to have a great spot for the birds and bees to visit!

I told the master gardener about the Sassafras tree too. She was very happy that I had decided to plant her favorite tree in my yard. Even though it is native to this area, nurseries don't sell the trees here. I ordered a bare root tree from a guy on eBay who lives 300 miles away. He waits to dig up a twig (it would be an exaggeration to call it a stick) with roots until you order it. He dug it up and shipped it on the same day, and I received it three days later. He actually had included two twigs, and I planted both of them. Hopefully, at least one will grow.

Lilac? Who would have thought. Great. Sounds like it will be lovely. I cannot grow a thing here for some reason.

My mom, a former master gardener, thinks it's heliotrope too. She's in Zone 8b and was able to grow it in a sheltered area of her yard. She then moved it to the east side of her yard, where there was less shelter and more cold eastern wind, and it died.