Sambucus nigra var. canadensis
Common name: Elderberry
Also known as Black or Common Elderberry, Sambucus nigra var. canadensis is a large shrub with showy flower displays that produce an abundance of sweet, edible fruit. The small flowers mass together in 6-12 inch wide flat-topped cymes in June. The purple-black fruit is relished by birds and humans from August to September. If the plant gets too large for an area, it may be cut to the ground in March and will still flower the same year. A great plant for shrub borders that have half-day sun.
Photos
Click on each individual photo to enlarge for full size preview.
My Cart
Plant Details
Plant type
Shrubs
Soil type
Dry Mesic, Mesic (Not too Wet Not too Dry), Moist Mesic
Light exposure
Eastern Exposure / Morning Sun, Full Sun, Partial Sun / Part Shade
Bloom period
Late Spring
Urban environment
Uncompacted Urban Soils, Compacted/New Construction Soils, Road-side/Salt Tolerant, Yards that Flood
Habitat
Floodplain, Moist Woods, Prairie Grasslands, Savannas, Wetlands, Woodlands
Growth form
Shrubby/Clump, Colonizing / Spreading
Growth rate
Fast
Flower color
White
Fall color
Yellow
Size
- Mature height
- 8 Feet
- Mature width
- 6 Feet
- Max height
- 12 Feet
- Max width
- 8 Feet
Additional information
Loved by birds Pollinator hot spot Edible fruit