(Question)
Two years ago we moved to the Kingston area from Ottawa and while cleaning out the overgrown gardens I found this lovely shrub. It had all of 2 branches at the time so I carefully propped it up, gave it some support and every year it has grown and grown. All the green turns to lovely pink and it’s gorgeous but I don’t know what it is.
(Answer)
Dear gardener, thank you for contacting the Toronto Master Gardeners.
Although it is always a bit tricky to identify from a distance, I trust that what you have is the lovely Tamarix chinensis or five stamen Tamarix. This deciduous shrub requires full sun but protection from winter winds both of which it is obviously getting in your garden as it seems to be thriving.
I am including a link to the Missouri Botanical garden as it contains some great pictures of Tamarix ramosissima (salt cedar), a similar species.
Enjoy your graceful specimen!