Help identifying yellow flowering shrub?
Need help identifying this adorable yellow shrub (possibly small tree)? It’s growing amongst a sheared hedge so not sure of it’s full size – currently about 6′ tall.
Serrated leaves, small yellow flowers about 1-1.5″ diameter – i’m in Los Angeles area most likely zone 8 or 9.
Would love to know what it is! Thank you for any help!
Hi! This shrub looks like Ochna thomasiana or maybe Ochna serrulata (its specific epithet is derived from the Latin serrula “little saw”, and refers to its fine-toothed leaf margins). Ochna serrulata has narrow serrated leaves while Ochna thomasiana has much wider leaves.
The plant is easy to grow and relatively cold hardy (to light freeze). They say O. serrulata is more cold resistant than O. thomasiana.
The name of this genus comes from the Greek word Ochne, used by Homer and meaning wild pear, as the leaves are similar in appearance.
This plant is commonly known as carnival ochna, bird’s eye bush, Mickey Mouse plant or Mickey Mouse bush due to the plant’s bright-red sepals, which resemble the face of Mickey Mouse. Ochna is the symbol of luck for the Vietnamese New Year.
Thank you Kathie!
