Eleutherococcus sp. aff. giraldii [DJHC0563]

A collection of this mult-stemmed well-prickled deciduous species from China by Dan Hinkley. We received this as simply Eleutherococcus sp. DJHC0563 but a little ferreting on the Flora of China key leads us to believe it is E. giraldii but will await flowering (dead of winter now which is when the time is available for botanical sleuthing but seasonally contraindicated for effective keying) and further refining with the key to say for sure. But we're pretty sure. Sure to really. Nearly damned. Small panicles of pale flowers in umbellate balls followed by pendulous clusters of black fruit in fall.