A shrub, over 2 metres high, with a very simple shaped leaf, mid-green, slightly shiny with deep lines, about 5/6cm long, not thought to be deciduous; no flower yet discovered. Stems a bit like bamboo, but leaves not similar at all.
I wish I could offer a photo ( which I have) but all my attempts so far have failed.
Might well be Cotoneaster salicifolius, but what might account for the fact that this mysterious plant never seems to have either flowers or berries ? Most cotoneasters seem to have heaps of both, in my experience.
Hi Atalanta, For it to flower well, it needs to be in a good position, sun or part-shade (not too shady) and with the correct pruning, it should flower, obviously, it has to flower before you will see the berries.
If I knew how to send a link, I would direct you to the RHS site or similar equivalent, but maybe you can look there for advice.
C. salisifolious can become a large sprawling shrub (depending on variety) but can easily be contained with formative pruning. Good Luck.
Are you sure that it isn't one of the hundreds of Buddleias, Looking at the picture you sent, I notice that it has been cut back or has been damaged leaving quite a solid main "trunk" or branch. The bark on that looks very much like what a Beddleia would have. If it is indeed a Buddleia it will attract butterflies by the ton when flowering and is sometimes called the butterfly plant. However it is quite invasive and will grow at a fair rate including the roots.
I have just shown your picture to "She who must be obeyed" atalanta and she said without hesitation that it looks like a Bottle Brush, Callistemon being the Genus name. She is pretty good with plants and shrubs.