Help Identifying Flower Shrub

. My appologies for just barging in as a first time visitor with a question but I am stuck. I have spent hours online trying to identify this lovely bush, its flowers with the most beautiful fragrance, but with little success. It grows here in Michigan USA woodland clearings, I have seen it up around 8 feet high, green leaves that are silver underneath ovate toothless wavy edges alternating pinnate reddish leafstalks and branches, small whitish tubular flower clusters along the branch in Spring pointing down with a strong pleasing fragrance, and reddish berries in fall. I have a few photos at the link below, click on the photos to enlarge...

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Michael Baribeau

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Michael Baribeau
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the plant in question is some species of Lonicera(honeysuckle). I have seen them growing everywhere in the northern lower penninsula where they have basically taken over. Im not sure if it is Lonicera fragratissima or L. mackii or some wierd hybrid. Anyway they sure smell nice, you can drive down the road and the air is thick with thier fragrance.

Toad

Reply to
Marley1372

. Thank you, Toad. It does resemble Honeysuckle but it is neither Lonicera fragrantissima or L. maackii whose blooms are irregular and leaves in opposition while mine has radially symmetrical blooms and alternating leaves (plus the silver underside) and I couldn't find a close match with others. As you said maybe a hybrid, I will continue the search.

Michael Baribeau

Reply to
Michael Baribeau

Hi Michael,

Ugh! It sounds like the evil Autumn Olive (elaeagnus umbellata). Try doing a Google search using the latin name.

It has been listed as a noxious weed in West Virginia. Other states have listed it as an invasive species.

The following link may help:

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really do have a potent fragrance, almost intoxicating in the spring time. They are also really difficult to kill/eradicate. I have a lot of them around the place. I didn't even need to look at your photos. The description you gave was plenty...

They use to be a recommended planting for wildlife, but not anymore here in Michigan. I wouldn't recommend encouraging them to grow in your area at all. You will regret it...

Reply to
Leon Fisk

That's it! Thank you, Leon! I love the fragrance too much to kill these shrubs that grow wild in our wooded lot but I will heed your warning and watch their spread.

Michael Baribeau

Reply to
Michael Baribeau

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