Elderberry

Sambucus canadensis (sam-BEW-cus can-ah-DEN-sis)

Perennial - Sun to Part Shade

SPACING: 6’ - 8’

HEIGHT: 10’ - 12’

SPREAD: 8’ - 10’

HABIT: White flower clusters in spring. Edible purple-black berries ripen in August. The native range of this plant is east of the Rocky Mountains. 

CULTURE: Shrubby, tall, and multi-trunked. Grows easily to 12’ . Plant and stay out of the way. Foliage stinks when you rub against it. Not self-pollinating, you need two plants for fruit.

USES: Excellent for attracting birds. Diuretic. Flower heads and berries are used for wines, jellies, pies, and excellent fritters. "The dark blue or purple berries are mildly poisonous in their raw state, but are edible after cooking" (Wikipedia). Good landscape plant. Delicious berries if you can get them before the birds do. Only blue or purple elderberries are edible, the seeds of red elderberry are toxic (fruit can be used if seeds are removed). An edible cultivar of S. canadensis is S. Nigra. Opinions vary on toxic parts of the plant - check your local garden center or USDA Ag office or visit sites like Healthline for details about health claims and dangers of eating or drinking parts of these plants.  

PROBLEMS: Invasive.

NOTES: Known for its ability to produce humus quickly. There are cultivars available that have dark purple foliage and make an excellent landscape choice.

The USDA publication about the Common Elderberry can be found at 
https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/cs_sanic4.pdf

North Carolina State Extension office page for Sambucus canadensis.

  Search Library Topics      Search Newspaper Columns