ID This Shrub- The Verdict is In

[KWolt]

Okay guys and gals, this one’s been bothering me for years because I’m usually pretty good on ID. This is on a property in southern Maine, say zone 4. The pictures were taken in early June. This property has some unique plants for Maine including the state champion silver bell so this shrub could be anything. I believe it gets bluish black berries later in the summer.

 

[JD3000]

Cultivar of Philadelphus perhaps?

Leaves look like a dogwood but that bark isn't right I believe.

Beautiful property, used to work places like that.

 

[JD3000]

Perhaps a type of Lonicera would match that bark also.

 

[KWolt]

Bark definitely resembles Lonicera, definitely not a dogwood. I believe the leaves are alternate which rules out honeysuckle and most dogwoods. Flowers don’t have the fragrance of Philadelphus and it never gave me the “feel” of Philadelphus. Note the smooth bark and lenticels on the young sprouts.

 

[ATH]

Cultivar of Philadelphus perhaps?

.....

P. coronarius ???

Old bark of Lonicera. Young bark looks like Syringa.

 

[KWolt]

Agreed.

 

[KWolt]

I agree with the assessment of the bark on old and young wood. Doesn’t have the classic mock orange fragrance. I don’t remember anything distinctive about the fragrance. Is coronarius still a candidate? That wouldn’t be typical of the genus.

 

[KWolt]

Also, I’m pretty sure it gets bluish black berries on it mid to late summer.

 

[KWolt]

There is a Philadelphus inodorus (without odor) so maybe we’re onto something because I can’t swear to the fruit. The arrangement of the anthers seems different though. JD3000 might be right about a cultivar or different species.

 

[RopeShield]

Viburnum?

 

[KWolt]

No, not viburnum. Previous posts along the lines of Philadelphus are closer, it has that weedy kind of look to it, or like bush honeysuckle. We’ve got some bare ground here right now, I may stop by and see if I can see berries on the ground from last summer. I think it’s got alternate leaves, viburnum would be opposite but I’ll check that too. There’s been some good feedback here but I think this a case where it looks a lot like some things but we’re just not quite there yet. It’s the kind of thing that might take a nurseryman to ID. I thought the closeups of the flowers might give a botanist something to go on.

 

[Acerxharlowii]

Is it buckthorn?

 

[KWolt]

Nope, definitely not a buckthorn. And I did check the other day, the leaves are definitely alternate.

 

[Acerxharlowii]

the bark looks nothing like buckthorn too. I guess I agree with mockorange too

 

[KWolt]

It flowers in clusters, mock orange flowers are more evenly distributed throughout the plant. No mock orange fragrance. And then there’s the issue of fruit. Doesn’t Michael Dirr read these posts?

 

[Acerxharlowii]

Lol. That would be nice

 

[JD3000]

Actually...emailing him or Bill Hendricks would probably solve your dilemma.

 

[KWolt]

I think this is more fun but if someone has their email I’d give it a shot.

 

[Acerxharlowii]

Ive ooked at most cluster flowering shrubs and trees. It’s not Pyrus, Prunus, Aronia. Spirea. Etc. and I can’t find anything that matches

 

[KWolt]

Nope, judging by the flowers (and everything else) I don’t think it’s in the rose family and alternate leaves eliminates Caprifoliaceae.