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Hi, all. Help me ID mystery tree blooming now in Michigan.

11 years ago

I wish I could get a photo, but it is impossible. There is a cluster of roughly five, multi-trunked (appears 2-3 trunks per clump) clumps of a small tree, say roughly 15 feet tall, same width at top, long pinnately compound leaves that remind me somewhat of Ailanthus or staghorn sumac. And very large, fluffy white flower cluster (I believe panicle might be the right term) that resembles a giant, overgrown Astilbe or actually bear a pretty striking resemblance to the flowers of Syringa reticulata but the flowers are larger, up to probably 10-12 inches wide by the same height. Bark appears quite smooth, grayish to gray brown. Trees do not have branches or foliage until about 2/3rds of way up, so long bare trunks. Could be from pruning, could be natural, hard to say, I have fly by at 50-55 mph minimum to avoid being hit from behind by other traffic.

Unfortunately, these are in a island bed along the roadside of what appears to be a private residence on the most heavily traveled primary road in my county, an eight lane divided highway with a 55 mph speed limit, so traffic actually goes 65. And there is absolutely no place to pull off or stop, I think the property actually has a driveway off a private road set back from the highway and parallel to it. So no way to get a photo.

I can tell you what it's not -- it is NOT Heptacodium miciniodes, which is blooming right now here -- I have 2 of those, and it is most certainly NOT Seven Sons Tree.

But I have no clue what it might be. Very different because of the time of year of bloom.

Comments (6)

jimbobfeeny
11 years ago
Sounds like a tree-type Aralia of some sort...

Here, we have Hercules club or Devil's walking stick (A. Spinosa), which sounds exactly like the plant you are describing. I didn't think it bloomed this late, though.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
flowers are larger, up to probably 10-12 inches wide by the same height.

===>> single flower of that size in fall in MI ... or you mean clusters that size ..

i was going to say 7 sons is about the only thing blooming in my yard ... the only other thought is that other thing in my yard that is escaping me.. oh.. the shrub hydrangea ... oak leaf hy.??? .. the old flowers are pretty beat up.. but at 65 mph.. they might be close. lol ..

brave enough to drop a note in the mail box???? .. if you could find it.. lol.. try bing map satellite view ... mapquest might even generate an address to mail a note ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link
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denninmi
Original Author
11 years ago
Nope, not a hydrangea. The flower clusters are larger than Syringa reticulata. The individual flowers aren't discernable but the entire thing has that fluffy, astilbe type look so must be tiny.

If it weren't 15 miles from home I would drive by at 6:30 Sunday morning so I could stop on the shoulder (right in front of one of the many "No Stopping or Driving on Shoulder" signs) and try to get a photo.
Iris GW
11 years ago
I agree - look at pictures of Aralia spinosa. It is a late blooming large shrub/small tree with ginormous bi-pinnately compound leaves and a huge white flower spike. And tends to sucker and grow in clumps, especially on moist roadsides.
sam_md
11 years ago
From Bill Cullina's Native Trees, Shrubs, & Vines
A. spinosa has an airy, palm-like effect all summer and of coarse, unique, stubby look in the winter, but fall is truly its finest hour. As summer begins to wane, the tip of each branch develops a flattened, compound panicle composed of dozens of small flowers arrayed in wagon-wheel umbels. The creamy white flowers give the plant a frothy, clouded appearance when they first appear.
gardener365
11 years ago
I have a Rhus chinensis currently in bloom with flower panicles also like astilbe. It suckers a little bit (nothing like Staghorn, very minimal suckering) so it too can grow in a clump form although, I grow mine as a single-trunked-tree. Fall color is beyond superb.

Another interesting July/August bloomer is Evodia/Tetradium danielli - should you be looking to add some bloom to your summer landscape.

Dax

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