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Name That Plant!

Fast growing tree/bush

8 years ago

It's hard to tell from the picture, but this tree or bush has come from nowhere and grown to about 7 or 8 feet tall pretty quickly. It's growing up into a willow tree on the edge of a wetland area in SE Michigan, so it likes water!

I am hoping somebody can ID it so I can decide if I want to replant it when I take it out. Like I said, it's growing right into a tree, so it needs to be moved or taken away.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

carol23_gw

8 years ago

I love the plant and it's native, helps support wild birds with the fruit. I planted one in my garden. I disagree that we need to buy named plants. Some of my best plants have come in from seed and are highly desirable. There are elderberries around my area in flower now. I look for ornamental value, a good plant for the growing conditions and space, native and not weedy, helpful for pollinators and wild birds. Elderberry fits the bill on all counts. It also flowers later than many shrubs.

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Comments (9)

peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
8 years ago
Sambucus - Elderberry.
jwarcher
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks! Any idea how big this thing might get? Is it a desirable plant? It's at the edge of my property, so I may just move it. I would like to know how big they get, though. Thanks again.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
when looking for size.. this is how you might do it

https://www.google.com/search?q=Sambucus+-+Elderberry.&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=b1iNVankLcLUoASNm5HICQ&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAg&biw=864&bih=745&dpr=0.9

i dont know if there are cultivars ... but i would suggest you look into buying predictable named plants ... rather than things that pop up out of nowhere ...

ken
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
Birds like the berries. The flowers and berries are ornamental to my eye. It sounds like it's in a good place and looks healthy.
jwarcher
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for the advice, I think I'll keep it, but move it out from under the willow. I don't mind having random things pop up, this is the edge of a wetland area that abuts my yard. It does look pretty with the blooms right now.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
8 years ago
If it is of flowering size think that moving it is going to be a pretty big job.
blakrab Centex
8 years ago
I'd say it's a great shrub to have - with ornamental, edible & medicinal value. If you boil the berries, you can make your own cold/flu syrup.
fatamorgana2121
8 years ago
To answer Ken, there are named cultivars for elderberry but they are not required. I've grown the elderberry variety "Adams" and have found the wild ones suited to my own local conditions to be more robust and out perform Adams with regards to flowers and fruit. That is the nature of plants suited to your location and not someone else's.

To the OP, elderberries can often be found in the margins of wet areas as well as other margins like field and forest edges. It is their preferred location. If it likes the location, I wouldn't move it unless it is in a "bad" location for you. And the flowers as well as the ripe berries are edible as well and often used in herbal cold remedies.

FataMorgana

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