Frustrating Tree Identification

[SpaceBus]

There's a weird tree/shrub behind my house that has eluded identification. It looks like a mountain ash crossed with a pin cherry. Smooth bark, non serrated leaves, but berries that resemble tiny cherries. The berry flesh is white, extremely bitter, and contains four pale seeds. There is a mountain ash right next to it, which I assumed they were the same until they started fruiting.

Any ideas? I've chekcked all my field guides, online resources, etc with no luck. Even locals think we are making it up. I'm going to try on the Arborist forums as well.

 

[festerw]

I've had decent luck with an app called Plantsnap
https://www.plantsnap.com/

 

[begreen]

I was going to say serviceberry, but the bitter fruit doesn't match. Does this bush change color in autumn and lose its leaves? Did you notice what its flower is like in spring?

 

[begreen]

I've had decent luck with an app called Plantsnap
https://www.plantsnap.com/

I tried plant snap, but need a better picture to capture off the computer screen. A close up of just one leaf cluster with berries might work.

Maybe a winterberry?

 

[SpaceBus]

I was going to say serviceberry, but the bitter fruit doesn't match. Does this bush change color in autumn and lose its leaves? Did you notice what its flower is like in spring?

I want to say the flowers were small and white, but I also just assumed it was a cherry tree of some sort. If it does change colors, it will be soon. We moved in right after the leaves fell, only a few Tamaracks had needles.

 

[begreen]

Might be a form of winterberry. It grows wild in Maine.

 

[SpaceBus]

Plantsnap gave me an orchid or crab apple tree...

 

[begreen]

https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2571e/

 

[SpaceBus]

I don't think it's winterberry. This shrub has berries on stems, but otherwise the berries do look like Holly berries. The leaves are not pointed or sharp.

 

[SpaceBus]

I'm thinking about paying for plantsnap just to send the photo to a botanist!

 

[begreen]

Send some good photos to the Univ of Maine. They may be able to id for free.
https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/

 

[Knots]

Does not resemble the winter berry I'm familiar with. Downeast has some different flora than the west, but I'd start looking at the possibility of ornamentals...

 

[SpaceBus]

Does not resemble the winter berry I'm familiar with. Downeast has some different flora than the west, but I'd start looking at the possibility of ornamentals...

It could have been planted, I didn't consider that. It's next to an old shed, but the shed is on a tiny slab...