Need an ID please

[mort]

Hi, can you please tell me what this "tree" is? calling it a tree as it has a single central stem. I've always thought it was an Ash, Fraxinus excelsior but a friend said "why are you growing that elder". It sprung up in the garden a couple of years ago and where I moved it another has sprung up so it got me thinking. The leaves are made up of 13 leaflets and about a foot long at the moment. Any help is appreciated thanks

 

[Alex J]

I'am 99% sure You are correct, Elder. Sambucus Nigra has 5 to 7 pairs of pinnate leaflets as opposed to 6 to 12 in Ash , but they do look very similar of course the fruits are very different, ash being winged shape and elder the unmistakable small black berries in clusters

 

[mort]

Thanks, there haven't been any fruits yet but I have it planted in an old salt bucket anyway so can easily remove it later.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I've always thought it was an Ash, Fraxinus excelsior

I think you are right. If you look at the terminal bud it should be black, and the bark smooth and grey.

The <"purple leaves plant"> in your photo 1. is a cultivar of Elder (Sambucus nigra).

Ash is really common as sapling from seed.

cheers Darrel

 

[mort]

Thanks Darrel, the terminal buds are black and it has a smooth grey stem. I put it next to the black elder as I was trying to compare it but realise the normal elder grows differently.