I cannot identify this...shrub? hedge? bush? It is very large, it is very fragrant similar to a mayflower is the best to describe it. The flowers on it that bloom (white & cream in color) from July to August are very tiny, you have to be up close to even notice there is flowers, only a few centimeters and I have no idea if it is natural to the area or if someone planted it a long time ago? In Eastern Canada...

Any information appreciated!

Osmanthus?

I don't think Osmanthus.. Although the inconspicuous fragrant white flowers would fit, Osmanthus flowers have 4 petals.. It looks like yours has 5 or 6... and the leaves don't look right for the ones I'm familiar with.. Is it evergreen or deciduous? I think I'm stumped.

It is deciduous. Hm, Osmanthus does look similar to it in what I can research in picture, I wonder if any variant of Osmanthus has 5-6 petals?


Thanks for the information!

I don't think any Osmanthus are hardy in Zone 5 (BTW Prosedda, is that Canadian Zone 5a or USDA Zone 5a?). Are the leaves alternate or opposite? I can't quite tell for sure from the pictures.

Its in Southern Cape Breton, apparently that is "Zone 6b" !
Hmm, they look alternate

Yes according to the equivalent of the USDA Zone map for Canada that area would appear to be USDA Zone 6b. Have you ever noticed any fruits on that plant?

Okay, thanks for the zone help! Also, I have never seen fruit on it before but in previous years there were very few flowers, I could have missed seeing fruit on it come autumn. Hmm.

That's likely to be a Winterberry Holly - Ilex verticillata.

Holly species are typically dioecious - meaning that individual plants have male (staminate) or female (pistillate) flowers.

Your images seem to show a plant with only male flowers, which will not display fruit.

Yours truly,

ViburnumValley
Past President, Holly Society of America

It does look like it, I was thinking flowering now was too late but this article does say mid-summer in Nova Scotia:

http://www.nswildflora.ca/spec...

Ilex verticillata makes perfect sense. I think you're right, ViburnumValley.

Thanks to everyone for all your help and information, so excited to finally know what it is!