The overall size and form of this plant resembles a lilac. Flowers are not as evenly distributed as with lilac (with plant in question the flowers tend to occur near the top). The long "tendrilly" flowers are can be light or dark purple but I have seen beige ones as well. The leaves are more oblong (wider at the tip) and darker with light coloured veins. When crushed they smell like lime as dothe "flowers". The lime smell is what is most striking. I will post a photo later. Hoping someone can ID this from the description. Thanks, parva domus, magna quies
Not if shrub is being seen in Toronto. Don't know about lime smell but otherwise plant is probably Buddleja davidii. The "beige" ones would be B. x weyeriana.
Both of those are close to my description but I guess a picture is worth a 1000 words :) The plant in question really is more of a bush - like a lilac. It is a decorative (probably not native) bush/tree growing in Southern Ontario. I'm having a hard time finding any with the strange "bottle-brush scrubber" tendrilly flowers left to photograph. Checking Google street view to see if I can find a timely shot :) Attached is a photo of trimmed back specimen that has not been left to bloom or to grow closer to full height. At least you can get an idea of the leaf shape and size. Thanks for your responses. -- parva domus magna quies
We have a winner! Interesting that Cotinus includes Sumacs. I'm going to look more closely for resemblance now. Thanks Ron B. -- parva domus, magna quies
When Old World authors call this Venetian sumach they are not saying Rhus is included within Cotinus. Cotinus was included within Rhus in the past. Unless somebody has now flipped it around, and absorbed Rhus into Cotinus then I assume you are referring to common naming, perhaps confused by that.
