Three volunteer trees?

9 years ago

Location is z5 NY. Wondering if someone can identify these 3 volunteer trees. I'm having trouble getting good pics because it's always dark, windy, or raining. lol!

#1: This tree is at least 12 feet tall and seems to have a natural vase shape... very pretty! unfortunately, it's too close to other things which has caused it to lean, and it may have to come out or be trimmed back soon. The largest branch that leans to the right in the photo is the main trunk :) It's in full bloom right now. Is it a viburnum?

#2: This is a scraggly little tree that I just noticed this year -- it had a reddish/pink tint to the leaves a few weeks ago (couldn't get a clear pic then either).

Tried to get a clear shot of the bark because it's so distinctive, but it's too windy.

#3: Wondering if this is black cherry tree?

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Comments (5)

windberry zone5a BCCanada
9 years ago
The first one is Cornus but I am not sure which species.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
1 Cornus alternifolia, pagoda dogwood.

2 & 3 wild cherries, Prunus, but I'll let you look up which is which.
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party_music50
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you both for your replies! NHBabs, I just read up on pagoda dogwood -- very cool! Really wish this one wasn't so crowded and leaning. :(
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
9 years ago
One of the things I like about pagoda dogwood is as the berries ripen they shift from green through red to deep purple-black, and then the tree is full of birds eating the fruit until it's all gone. Nice fall color, and I like the winter branching. A really lovely year-round plant. If it were mine, I would enjoy it despite the lean. Perhaps limb up either the dogwood or the other nearby plants so they aren't in so much competition? Or keep an eye out for seedlings and transplant one to a better spot.

IME the cherries don't fit well in a typical suburban yard. I like them along the wood edges for their spring bloom and for the fruit they supply to the birds, but they are rapidly-growing, messy, and often plagued with caterpillars.
party_music50
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks for the info, NHBabs! The dogwood is actually located at the back edge of the property -- between the fence and clothesline. :( There are big old Mock Orange trees along the fence line there and that canopy is part of what's forcing the dogwood to lean. Two years ago I saw someone post here about IDing Oriental Bittersweet and that's when I realized this mess of stuff was completely encased in it! I've spent the last two years trying to eradicate the OB and so far I don't see any of it sprouting this year (yay! :) I don't remember ever seeing berries on this tree, but the OB may have affected that... I'll be looking for them this year! Thanks! :)

ETA: I'll be removing those cherries! The entire length of the back yard has been changing by itself for years... neighbors removed their HUGE pine trees that had suffocated the space for years. Now I just watch to see what else shows up and I'm getting some real keepers. :)