Cornus alternifolia possibly.

The leaf arrangement appears opposite so I think it's another shrubby species and not alternifolia.

Yes carol, my poor pea brain, possibly Cornus rugosa.

Thank you all for helping, looks like it is worth keeping :)

Hi Rina. I'd say C. rugosa as well.

And yes, it is a nice native understory shrub from Minnesota to Maine and all parts in between. Did you peek over the fence to see if there was evidence of past flowers/fruit on that side? A 4.5 footer should be old enough to flower.

tj

tj

Thanks; it only started to grow beginning of this summer, and grew quite fast. I am quite sure it didn't bloom at all - I have been watching it to see if I can ID...Will try to investigate if there is older trunk there, maybe they have moved it early in spring (not that they do much in the garden, and there are many wild raspberries growing along the fence I am trying to get rid of!)

tj

Checked closely & found remains of the trunk at the soil line, maybe 2.5-3" in diameter; branches are growing from that. So it was a shrub before...(I only moved here last fall). I will try to take care of I & hope it will bloom next spring. Thank you again for your help.