Eleutherococcus

This group consists of about fifty deciduous trees and shrubs native to the East and Southeast. E. sieboldianus Variegatus is a hardy, medium-sized shrub with many upright, cane-like stems and bunches of large leaves consisting of three or five leaflets edged with white. Each cluster has a small, curved thorn at its base. In late spring, umbels of greenish-white flowers are produced. These are followed by clusters of black fruits.