2 IDs please?

A friend is trying to pin down these plants..I've offered to help
This first one I'm sure is Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' but she says that the multiple stems are too soft and green for it to be a Hydrangea. IIRC, when you cut it back, Annabelle does throw up lots of new shoots at ground level. She's adamant that it's a perennial. Your thoughts?

For the sake of saving space, I've left the other photos as thumbnails. That's a small tree..she's narrowed it down to Acacia, Robinia or Gleditsia. It's not flowered yet, so only the leaves and habit to go by....TIA for any pointers

 

The tree is Gleditsia.
Cant help with the hydrangea.

Hang on, first two pics are Gleditsia last one is Robinia.

 

You see the dilemma, @pete? Miriam's a pretty good botanist but it's got her stumped! Perhaps she's got a rare new cross? Her plants struggle a bit so it could be quite a wait for the flowers......

 

The Hydrangea could well be H.annabelle.
It is very different from other Hydrangea.
The stems are softer...the flower heads so round and heavy they can drag the stems down.

I agree with Pete re trees.
1 and 2 Leaflets are perfect for Gleditsia triacanthos...note the thorns.

https://www.gardentaining.com/PSC26...anthos_inermis/images/honeylocust_flowers.jpg

3 Looks different.

 

I'd agree that the Hydrangea is Annabelle. I grow it and mine looks identical to the 1 in the photo.

 

1 and 2 Gleditsia has no terminal leaflet.

http://www.namethatplant.net/Images/ImagesFire/s0/s081018_c.jpg

3 Robinia... note....has a terminal single leaf.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...e_Up.jpg/220px-Black_Locust_Leaf_Close_Up.jpg

Pete was spot on.