Hi can't identify the plant - but looks like new growth to me (would imagine this time next year it will be the same as the remainder of the plant). Hope this helps - good luck, Iain

Hi

That new growth is always like that every year but by this time would normaly be about 4 times longer, the black 'stuff' appears dead to me and shows no signs of any growth. It started going black last year so I know it's not growing. Many thanks for the reply though :-)

Cheers
Andy