Jetbead is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that invades understories despite shade. Most noticeable for its flowers. Grown as a desired ornamental in China and Japan, it quickly outcompetes native shrubs and can grow five to seven feet tall disturbing canopy layers. Single, white showy flowers appear on sprawling shrubs in early May often at forest edges. The berries grow perpendicularly to each other and are jet black. Leaves are deeply veined, elongated and toothed - they grow directly opposite of each other.
Currently it is a less common invasive species in Hudson Valley, if you see it, please document its presence by loading photos onto iNaturalist
Jetbead is confused with native mock orange (Philadelphus virginalis) which has similar four petaled white flowers. The native Arrowood (Viburnum dentatum) is a lookalike but the leaves are softer and rounder.
To learn more about it, and to see additional photographs, go to Lower Hudson PRISM.