Ornamental Plant ID - unusual flowering tree

Hi folks,

This tree has been in our garden since before we moved in. We didn’t notice it for years initially, as it had grown right up through the canopy and got lost. We thinned around it, and coppiced it down to ground level, and it fortunately sent up half a dozen new vigorous shoots.

My trusty plant ID app can’t figure it out, and no one who has been to the site has had a clue.

Please help me out!

Is it some kind of privet?

By "coppice" I assume you mean cut it back down to the ground? Anyway:

- How tall was it before you cut it?
- Single trunk or multiple stems?
- What diameter?
- What was the overall shape, size, of the plant?
- Thick foliage, or not?
- Shed all its leaves come cold weather?
- What soil/water is it liking?
- Any "bad habits" you noticed? (aggressive seed sprouting, lots of large, sticky, stinky or otherwise unpleasant seeds covering the area, etc).

I'm interested, assuming we get a positive ID, because I need something tree-like, but not huge, for some landscaping. Starting the search...

Thanks,
Rufus

Am thinking Asian fruit tree. Looks a bit like lychee or locust leaf, flower. Not one of those, but might set you on the right path.

Rufus Laggren wrote:
- How tall was it before you cut it?

Approx 15m, single stem. But it was being crowded by the dense shade of surrounding fir trees. Not sure what it's habit would be in a more open space. Stem diameter was previously about 6" I think.

Rufus Laggren wrote:- Thick foliage, or not?
- Shed all its leaves come cold weather?

Yep, loses all its leaves. Foliage is not particularly dense.

Rufus Laggren wrote:- What soil/water is it liking?

Currently growing on thin chalky soil - but no way of comparing to other soil as we only have one of them!

Rufus Laggren wrote:- Any "bad habits" you noticed?

No seeds seen at all. I'm vaguely wondering if we have a male.

I believe it is bladdernut, hope that helps.

First reminded of citrus or jasmine, but the leaves are toothed and don't look very waxy.  Do the blossoms have a scent?