HelpfulGardener.com

Hello!

My first post. I was wondering if someone could help me figure out what this shrub is growing at the edge of a small wooded area in my backyard in northern Ohio. I'm actually in the process of reclaiming this portion of my yard and am removing several of these bushes. However, they've been here since I moved to this neighborhood and I've always wondered what they were.

Photos:

https://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af164/jfk41/IMG_0069.jpg

https://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af164/jfk41/IMG_0067.jpg

They grow a small white flower in early summer and a small berry (as you can see) in midsummer. They've gotten quite large (the biggest one I cut down yesterday was at least 7' tall). Were these likely unintended growth or are they ever used in landscaping? Also, I have a suspicion that they're pretty hardy and will grow right back at the stump. Any suggestions on herbicides to prevent regrowth?

Thanks!

This is just a wild guess, but they look somewhat like serviceberries. If that's correct, they are edible, so you might want to keep them.

I don't grow serviceberries, so I can't really be sure of my ID of them. I'm sure other members will post to confirm it if I'm right or correct me if I'm wrong.

Not quite convinced on the serviceberry ID, kisal. I think they have a little more serrated edges on their leaves:

https://www.utahschoice.org/~inpga/utah%20serviceberry

I think I should know what that is, it is looking very familiar. But I'm not coming up with it and I have to go to work, so no time to try looking it up.

But I'm thinking it is a landscape plant and most likely those berries are attractive to birds, so don't cut it down at least until someone comes along with a definitive ID....

I feel like it's shrubby dogwood of some kind, but I'm not positive....

Thanks a lot for the help guys!

I could have a match. After googling for a while I think it might be some form of Solanum. From what I've found, they share the distinctive arrowhead shaped leaves and five-pointed starlike flowers. More specifically, the leaves and berries resemble a bittersweet nightshade:

https://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/singlerecord.asp?id=730

Only, these are described as a viny weed whereas my plant is more of a tree-like shrub. Also, bittersweets almost always bear purple flowers - mine are white.

Does it sound like I'm on the right track? Would a photo from a different angle help?

Thanks again guys.

I don't think it's a solanum. The leaves look far too leathery.

I really want to say Red Osier Dogwood. Does it have reddish stems or yellowish stems (yellow bark cultivar). The colors are more prominent in winter but also can appear under stress.

applestar wrote:I don't think it's a solanum. The leaves look far too leathery.

I really want to say Red Osier Dogwood. Does it have reddish stems or yellowish stems (yellow bark cultivar). The colors are more prominent in winter but also can appear under stress.

Wow, I think you're spot on. Check out this photo comparison of the leaves of a Red Osier Dogwood and my mystery shrub:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cornus_sericea_leaf.jpg

https://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af164/jfk41/IMG_0067.jpg

That looks like a perfect match. I'm noticing some of the outer branches have the red tint you mentioned, applestar. The inner portion (which is pretty heavily wooded) is colorless - I.e., typical branch color.

This must've been some intentional landscape job from a ways back that went out of control long before I lived here. The bigger shrubs definitely had to go, but I'll work around the other ones. There is some insane weed growth (pokeweed galore, thistles) at the base of the shrubs, but I'll really try to clear it all out, lay down some weed barrier and wood bark and try to reclaim this as a viable portion of my backyard.

I'm feeling pretty confident we're talking about a dogwood now.

Thanks for the help everyone!