Canadian elder

Family Caprifoliaceae. Grows on moist, nitrogen-rich soils in the eastern part of North America. An ornamental and interesting shrub for landscaping, reaching 4 m in height.

Everything about it is remarkable: the structure and shape of the shrub with yellowish-gray shoots adorned with large, up to 30 cm, compound leaves; yellowish-white, small, pleasantly scented flowers gathered in large, up to 25 cm, slightly convex umbrella-like inflorescences; and finally, spherical, glossy, dark-purple, edible fruits. Under cultivation the height does not exceed 3 m. It grows quickly, is hardy, frost-resistant, shade-tolerant. Used in solitary, group and forest-edge plantings. In cultivation since 1761.

It has several ornamental forms: the largest (f. maxima) - vigorous growth, with larger leaves than the typical form, inflorescences up to 45 cm; sharply lobed (f. acutiloba) - very graceful, with deeply divided leaves, the lower leaflets pinnate, the upper ones sharply serrate, narrow-lanceolate; golden (f. aurea) - with golden-yellow leaves and cherry-red fruits; green-fruited (f. chlorocarpa) - with yellowish-green leaves and greenish fruits, the most spectacular of the forms of this species during flowering and fruiting.

Native range the mountains of Western Europe, naturalized from the Baltic states to the Pre-Caucasus. A deciduous shrub or small tree up to 5 m tall, with a broad, ovoid dense crown; compound, imparipinnate, light-green leaves up to 16 cm long, composed of 5-7 elliptical, pointed, sharply toothed leaflets. Flowers greenish-yellow in dense, ovoid or oblong-ovoid inflorescences, up to б cm in diameter. Flowering period 15-20 days. Fruits - bright red, small, berry-like, in dense clusters. Leaves and branches have an unpleasant smell.

Grows rapidly, especially on fertile, sufficiently moist soils. Shade-tolerant, less demanding on soil conditions than black elder. Tolerates urban conditions well, can be pruned. Propagated by seeds, cuttings, layering. Very beautiful in the fruiting period, especially when grown as a standard (single-stem), retains its ornamental value for decades, attractive also during flowering. Good in group plantings, on forest edges and as an understorey. Ornamental forms are used in solitary plantings and small groups. In cultivation since 1596.

Has several ornamental forms: low (f. nana) - dwarf, compact; feathered (f. plumosa) - leaves purple when unfolding, with leaflets cut almost to the middle, toothed; feather-golden (f. plumosa-aurea) - with the same leaflets as the feathered form but golden-yellow; fine-leaved (f. tenuifolia) - the leaflets of the compound leaf are deeply divided into very narrow segments, purple when unfolding, the foliage very lacy; purple (f. purpurea) - with pink or purple flowers; yellowish (f. flavescens) - with yellow fruits with an orange tinge fruits.

The most frequently used is the dissected-leaf form (f. laciniata) - a tent-shaped shrub or small tree up to 5 m tall, with early-unfolding opposite, large, imparipinnate leaves consisting of 2-3 pairs of finely divided leaflets, turning yellow in autumn. Numerous pale greenish-yellow flowers are gathered in erect, large globose or ovoid inflorescences. Fruits small, glossy, bright red, almost spherical. Shade-tolerant, grows rapidly. Develops best on fertile, loose soils with good light. If ornamental value is lost it requires severe pruning. Looks very good in standard form. Propagated by sowing seeds, layering, cuttings and grafting.

Occurs in forests, on forest edges, along roads and rivers in wet places, in the mountains of Western Europe, Crimea, the Caucasus, North America and Asia Minor. Very ornamental with black, glossy fruits that persist on the shrubs even after the leaves fall.

A large deciduous shrub or small tree 6-10 m high. The bark is light gray, deeply longitudinally furrowed. Leaves large, up to 30 cm long, composed of 5-7 ovate, pointed, sharply toothed leaflets, releasing an unpleasant odor when crushed. Flowers yellowish-white, fragrant, in dense umbrella-like inflorescences up to 20 cm in diameter. Flowering period 25-35 days.

Grows quickly, shade-tolerant, warmth-loving, does not extend north of the forest-steppe zone, requires fertile and moist soil, tolerates dry air and urban conditions well. Easily propagated by seeds, which lose viability quickly, by suckers, layering, and cuttings.

Has a number of ornamental forms, the most known of which are: pyramidal (f. pyramidalis) - with a columnar crown; weeping (f. pendula) - with drooping branches; low (f. papa) - globose in shape, up to 1 meter high; golden-variegated (f. aureo-variegata); white-variegated (f. albo-variegata) - with variegated leaf coloration; powdery (f. pulverulenta) - with small white dots and specks on the leaves.

Most often used is the golden (f. aurea) form - a large shrub or tree up to 10 m high, with a broadly rounded crown and large imparipinnate, golden-yellow leaves. Numerous yellow-white flowers are gathered in flat corymb-like inflorescences. Fruits small, globose, black-violet. Grows quickly, prefers slightly moist, loose, fertile soil. In shade it loses the intense golden coloration of the leaves. Propagated similarly to the typical form. Used in group and solitary plantings.