Dave's Garden - Gardening Community
Sponsored Links: Gardeners Supply - Mail Order Plants - Landscape Design - Plant Nurseries Mail Order - Flowering Bulbs - Winter Landscaping

Plant and Tree Identification: SOLVED: Small tree with brilliant foliage, pretty berries. Pls. I.D.

  Welcome!  
You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!

Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.

  Login  
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.

Username:

Password:

Forum: Plant and Tree IdentificationReplies: 17, Views: 240
AuthorContent
Lily_love
Central, AL
(Zone 7b)

November 1, 2009
07:28 PM

Post #7231435

These small trees are found atop Cheaha Mountain, Alabama. Most are roughly 7-9 feet tall. Some are twice as tall. Leathery, small oval foliage.

Thumbnail by Lily_love
Click the image for an enlarged view.

Lily_love
Central, AL
(Zone 7b)

November 1, 2009
07:32 PM

Post #7231449

Close up of the brilliant fall foliage:

Thumbnail by Lily_love
Click the image for an enlarged view.

Lily_love
Central, AL
(Zone 7b)

November 1, 2009
07:38 PM

Post #7231474

Tiny berries, roughly the size of cottonester's berries.

Thumbnail by Lily_love
Click the image for an enlarged view.

Malus2006
Coon Rapids, MN
(Zone 4a)

November 1, 2009
07:46 PM

Post #7231503

That's a lovely tree! Interesting it have thick leaves and both alternative and opposite or subopposite leaves. Also the branches seem rather distinct, having a zigzag to them but remain straight for long stretches of the branches.
Resin
Northumberland
United Kingdom
(Zone 9a)

November 1, 2009
07:56 PM

Post #7231548

Chokeberry Aronia? Far from certain, though.

Resin
Lily_love
Central, AL
(Zone 7b)

November 1, 2009
09:22 PM

Post #7231856

Thanks Resin. I collected some berries, hopefully they can be sown to the back of the garden for my birds' treats in the future.
altagardener
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3b)

November 1, 2009
10:23 PM

Post #7232038

The fruit arrangement (hence, inflorescence shape) looks rather odd for Aronia, doesn't it? It doesn't look like the cyme or compound umbel of Aronia... I have no other suggestions, though.

This message was edited Nov 1, 2009 7:25 PM
Lily_love
Central, AL
(Zone 7b)

November 2, 2009
08:21 AM

Post #7232916

altagardener, agreed. I've googled Aronia's images and I've noticed their fruits formation in clusters. These are seen singly, so I'll keep this thread open for further evaluation?
Resin
Northumberland
United Kingdom
(Zone 9a)

November 2, 2009
10:11 AM

Post #7233146

Quoting:The fruit arrangement (hence, inflorescence shape) looks rather odd for Aronia, doesn't it?

Yep, that's the main reason I am dubious about suggesting Aronia. But maybe they could be single if fruit set was very poor.

Also looks a bit like some Cotoneaster species, but given the situation, I'd suspect it is a local native rather than an introduced plant.

Resin
Malus2006
Coon Rapids, MN
(Zone 4a)

November 2, 2009
08:58 PM

Post #7235409

Another problem is common Aronia species have fine teeth on its leaves - mystery plant have very smooth edge leaves. Cotoneaster species I couldn't find any native or even invasive species for your area except for common cotoneaster which have very different foliages. I bet it's a localized species of whatever doesn't show up on general online search or field guides (they often omit the least common species at least for inland United States) as I can't find anything about it in some of my field guide books.
Lily_love
Central, AL
(Zone 7b)

November 2, 2009
10:12 PM

Post #7235684

Thank you M2006 for your observation/contribution.
Kalpavriksha
Sarasota, FL

November 4, 2009
07:01 PM

Post #7241939

Might it be a Prunus species?
Here's a link to an online book called Guide to Southern trees:
http://books.google.com/books?id=NS8SHHC0ORAC&pg=PP1&dq=guid...
On p 340 (drag the slider a little past 1/2 way down) there's a botanical key to help sort through these choke cherries.
I don't know; it's just a possibility. There are more experts on this than me!
Lily_love
Central, AL
(Zone 7b)

November 5, 2009
09:19 AM

Post #7243628

Thank you Kalpavriksha. I went to the link, unfortunately pages 297-366 are not part of the online review! I may just have to buy the book.
Fepup
Duluth, GA

November 6, 2009
06:54 PM

Post #7248529

Sparkleberry Vaccinium arboreum
Lily_love
Central, AL
(Zone 7b)

November 6, 2009
07:17 PM

Post #7248598

Fepup, you're spot on! Many thank, sparkleberry, tree-hackleberry it's! Love those native tree-like shrubs and berries. Though, it's said to be edible, I haven't tasted it yet.
Malus2006
Coon Rapids, MN
(Zone 4a)

November 6, 2009
09:50 PM

Post #7249095

Never thought it was a species of blueberry!
JulieQ
Cullman, AL
(Zone 7b)

November 7, 2009
01:28 AM

Post #7249578

I have some of these, but they are never a pretty red in the fall. The following is a thread I posted a couple years ago in late October.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=4132655

Lily_love
Central, AL
(Zone 7b)

November 7, 2009
09:13 AM

Post #7249888

Hi Julie, we still have alot of "green" here in central Alabama, though maples are orange and red, even this Tupelo was green as can be at the first of the month. It's now red, I'll post a pix of this magnificent tree this evening. I'm currious if yours doesn't receive enough sunlight (to give it a brilliant orange/red coloring in the Fall). Like my burning bush, their color up real late because they're under shade.

Thumbnail by Lily_love
Click the image for an enlarged view.

You cannot post until you register and login.

Other Plant and Tree Identification Threads you might be interested in:

SubjectThread StarterRepliesLast Post
SOLVED: Help with identification of this shrub dave 62 Oct 31, 2009 12:08 PM
SOLVED: Mystery perennial dave 18 Aug 28, 2008 10:15 AM
SOLVED: Name my aloe??? tom1953 15 May 2, 2009 5:29 PM
SOLVED: My unknown rose!! nicole_in_nc 29 Dec 1, 2009 5:41 PM
SOLVED: plant id please quynh 15 Apr 15, 2009 11:04 PM


We recommend Firefox
Overwhelmed? There's a lot to see here. Try starting at our homepage.

[ Home | About | Advertise | Mission | Acceptable Use Policy | Tour | Privacy Policy | Contact Us ]

Back to the top

Copyright © 2000-2010 Dave's Garden. All Rights Reserved.
 

NameMedia Home and Gardens
Share on FacebookShare on Stumbleupon

Hope for America