Schefflera puekleri

species: Schefflera puekleri

common name: mallet flower

family: Araliaceae

where & when encountered: Ventura, CA - 2018

A native of Malaysia with very distinctive fruits (above) - the reason for the common name "mallet flower". Now used for landscaping throughout California and the world.

Japanese angelica-tree

(photo courtesy Creative Commons)

species: Aralia elata

common name: Japanese angelica-tree

family: Araliaceae

where & when encountered: Garvies Point, NY - 2018

These striking but invasive trees are said to have displaced their close North American relative, devil's walkingstick (Aralia spinosa). Despite the name, they are native to large cross section of Asia including China, Korea and eastern Russia. In Japan and Korea, the shoots are used for food. 

trifoliate orange

species: Poncirus trifoliata

common name: trifoliate orange, Chinese bitter orange

family: Rutaceae

where & when encontered: Greenfield, CA - 2011; Old Westbury, NY

This is an interesting case. I encountered this distinctive citrus tree independently on the east and west coasts, not realizing they were the same plant. It is the most northern-growing citrus that I am aware of; it tolerates cold better than most citrus, which is how it survives in New York. The fruit is bitter, containing the chemical poncirin, but can be used to make marmalade.