Hey!
I was wondering if anyone could help ID this bush I have been collecting to make arrow shafts. It grows almost exclusively along river beds, areas prone to flooding and in local wooded marshes. I live in the US on the East Coast (USDA Hardiness Zone 6 if that is useful to anyone). Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Noah.

Hi Noah. Welcome to ATP. From your habitat description and location this could be one of the Calycanthus from the look of the leaves. The wood wood has a distinct aroma.

HamiltonSquare said:Hi Noah. Welcome to ATP. From your habitat description and location this could be one of the Calycanthus from the look of the leaves. The wood wood has a distinct aroma.

Thanks for the reply! I agree the leaves do look similar however this bush does not have a seed pod like Calycanthus does nor does it have a distinct aroma.

Thanks again for the help

If anyone has any further ideas I would love to know

A more precise location might help.

Vaccinium corymbosum is given for wetland plants of Maryland ..

http://www.mde.state.md.us/ass...

Vaccinium formosum looks close ...

http://www.carolinanature.com/...

Vaccinium corymbosum ..

http://www.carolinanature.com/...

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plan...

JRsbugs said:

A more precise location might help.

Vaccinium corymbosum is given for wetland plants of Maryland ..

http://www.mde.state.md.us/ass...

Vaccinium formosum looks close ...

http://www.carolinanature.com/...

Vaccinium corymbosum ..

http://www.carolinanature.com/...

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plan...

JRsbugs, this is a very helpful list, thanks! I believe it is within the genus Vaccinium, this will be useful in narrowing down the possibilities.