Description
Black Elderberry, Sambucus canadensis
TREEPOT – 5″ x 5″ x 14″
Light: Full Sun, Partial Sun
Moisture: Medium, Moist
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Height: 6–10 feet
Bloom Season: June, July
Bloom Color: White
Fruit: Black-Purple Berries
Benefits: Pollinators, Birds
Notes:
Elderberry can be found growing near stream banks or ponds and along roadways. It prefers moist soil but will tolerate medium soils. Elderberry spreads to form a thicket but the suckers can be pruned in a small garden setting.
The white flowers open in June and have a citrus fragrance. Only one elderberry shrub is needed for it to bear fruit, as the flowers are self-fertile. The berries that follow are burgundy and ripen to a black-purple color. The foliage turns yellow in the fall. Elderberry shrubs provide nesting sites for birds and are host plants for a number of small moths.
Birds prize the dark purple berries and people make wine, jellies and elixirs (for medicinal uses*) from the fruit. Caution, the berries must be cooked before being consumed! The flowers are also prized for making tea, and syrups.
*While elderberry has potential medicinal benefits, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before using it for any medical condition. Elderberry may interact with certain medications or have adverse effects in some individuals.
Photo gallery credits:
1. & 2. Ruth Oldenburg
3. Theodore Webster, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org 1553082
