Help with shrub ID

11 years ago

Hi,

I was wondering if someone could help me ID this shrub. It grows along a creek in a wooded, dappled-shade area, and is a lovely backdrop to a planted garden there. I thought it might be some kind of viburnum from the flowers, but the leaves are throwing me and I don't recall seeing any berries last year (although there are hardly any berries on my planted viburnums either). It is just finishing up bloom (sorry I couldn't get a photo in full bloom). It is about 8 feet tall, probably about 8 feet in diamter in an open, airy way, and rather tree-like in appearance - two or three main trunks, about an inch and half to two inches in diameter, with nothing much branching out from these trunks on the sides - all the bloom is at the top of the shrub.

Thanks for any help!

Dee

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Comments (5)

Marie Tulin Boston burbs z 6a
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
It just finished blooming so berries may be yet to come ( or not if it isn't self pollinating and a compatable mate is not in the vicinity). if we are able to rule out viburnunum (and I don't think we can yet) then elderberry is my best guess
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
11 years ago
I agree with Marie that it's an elderberry (Sambucus). I have a bunch here that date from prior to our ownership.
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bill_ri_z6b
11 years ago
I agree with Babs and Marie.
diggerdee zone 6 CT
Original Author
11 years ago
You know, a co-worker, without even seeing a photo, suggested sambucus. Don't these usually have much more "cut" leaves? I'm thinking of those varieties like... oh, something gold.... I don't have alot of experience with sambucus, but I just always get a visual of lacy-fingered foliage.

Are sambucus natives? This is growing in the woods. Well, l guess I can answer all the above questions on my own, lol. Off to do a bit of research. Thank you all for the suggestion!

Dee
Marie Tulin Boston burbs z 6a
11 years ago
You are thinking of the cutleaved cultivars.