[Aunt Sally]

I'd thought it was a Sambucus. But I can't find one with both leaf shapes, and they generally have white or pink flowers  :?

[Gwiz]

i will show this thread to our nursery manager on the morn, i'm sure the rounder type of leaf shouldn't be there. i'll laugh like a drain if he don't know what it is either!

[Aunt Sally]

Please do gwiz.  I have to know what is is now  :roll:

[Oliver]

you can often get what is known as a "sport".  ...

Hi Gwiz - that is what crossed my mind too, particularly as it looks like a plum, but what do 'they' graft plums onto that have frilly leaves? I know a man who knows these things, so I will ask him.
Meanwhile, night night
O

[GrannieAnnie]

Hey, Oliver, good to 'see' you back!!!!!

As to the mystery plant, I don't know about the feathery bits, but the other leaves and the red stems with the little 'fruits' look like elderberry, although at the moment, the elderberry is in flower not fruiting, could it be a relative of the elder?

[Aunt Sally]

That's what I think grannie. Sambucus = Elder

[David.]

What colour are the berries when fully ripe?

[splodger]

it could be a species of rhus

[glamourpuss]

Thanks for all the replies so far! Some kind of sambucus does seem to be a likely suspect - google images shows a couple of varieties that have similar leaf shape and colour, and it certainly seems to have the thuggish qualities of an elder!

In response to David, I think the berries stay yellow/green when ripe, pretty much as they are at the moment. They certainly don't go black like elderberries (or red).

If it's any help, I think the most distinctive part of the plant are the flower buds - they swell up to nearly the size of a marble before unfurling two bright red, feathered 'ears' in their early development. Wish I had taken some photos of them back in Feb/March!

Apologies to those of you who this plant is infuriating, but it's nice to know it's not something totally obvious that I have missed! Whoever planted this garden up seems to have had a taste for the slightly unusual, as there are two pomegranates planted in the borders as well! :?

[Oliver]

That's what I think grannie. Sambucus = Elder

Hello Grannieannie - I have been hre all along, watching, but been a but she has been a bit tied up so its been hard to get her to put my messages up! Now its stopped raining she will probably be out on the plot again ... so I had better make the most of things.

I don' t think the plant is an elder because the description of the flowers is nothing like an elder! But what - Steve probably knows. I will post again if I find out!!
O

[Gwiz]

your plant is .......
Sambucus 'Pluosa Aurea' the rounder type of leaf is an oddity that shouldn't be there.
hope this helps, i put it to the best minds at our nursery, who scratched their heads, chins and other bits, went out side, and matched it up with some of our shrubs out there. im looking at one of the lables here, and it is an exact match for your plant.

[Oliver]

your plant is .......
Sambucus 'Pluosa Aurea' the rounder type of leaf is an oddity that shouldn't be there

Yay! Well done, and thanks. I can go back to my roof then ...

[David.]

In response to David, I think the berries stay yellow/green when ripe, pretty much as they are at the moment. They certainly don't go black like elderberries (or red)

I was also thinking Sambucus Racemosa (but 'Sutherland Gold' rather than 'Plumosa Aurea'), but I'm afraid they both have red berries, thus my querying the colour when ripe.

[Aunt Sally]

your plant is .......
Sambucus 'Pluosa Aurea' the rounder type of leaf is an oddity that shouldn't be there.

Thanks gwiz.  I was fairly sure it was a Sambucus.  Are the rounder leaves a genetic mutation or a revertion to the wild type leaf.  Should they be cut out ?

[Gwiz]

cut them out.