Sambucus canadensis (Common Elderberry)
| Also known as: | Common Black Elder, Canadian Black Elderberry, American Elderberry |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Sambucus |
| Family: | Adoxaceae (Moschatel) |
| Life cycle: | perennial woody |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, sun; moist; floodplains, wet ditches, thickets, woodland edges, marshland edges, meadows |
| Bloom season: | July - August |
| Plant height: | 4 to 13 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | none |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
Pick an image for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.
Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd3/sambucus-canadensis-005.jpg)
Flat to dome-shaped clusters 3 to 10 inches in diameter at the tips of branches. Flowers are about ¼ inch across, white with 5 rounded petals and 5 creamy white-tipped stamens surrounding a pale, round ovary in the center, a tiny 3 to 5-parted stigma at the top. Flower stalks are smooth and light green, turning purplish in fruit.
Leaves and stems:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/trees/sambucus-canadensis-black-elderberry_0712_085553.jpg)
Leaves are opposite, compound in groups of 5 to 11, usually 7. Leaflets are generally lance-elliptic, 2 to 5 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, with a long taper to a pointed tip, finely serrated edges, and a short stalk. The upper surface is hairless to sparsely hairy along the midvein, the lower is paler in color and variously hairy along major veins, sometimes hairless. The lowest leaflet may be lobed in 3 parts. Leaf stalks are grooved on the upper side with a few fine hairs in the groove.
![[photo of bark with shallow fissures]](/udata/r9ndp23q/trees/sambucus-canadensis-black-elderberry_0425_154451.jpg)
Twigs are hairless, yellowish green with a white pith and scattered, large lenticels (pores), the bark turning brownish gray the second year and the pith remaining white. Older bark is brownish gray with shallow fissures, becoming rough with thin, plate-like scales. Stems are multiple from the base, rarely exceed 3 inches in diameter, are typically arching, suckering, spreading by rhizomes and may form small colonies.
Fruit:
![[photo of fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd3/sambucus-canadensis-011.jpg)
Fruit is a purplish-black berry less than ¼ inch diameter, containing 3 to 5 stone-like seeds. Flower stalks turn purplish as fruit develops, the clusters eventually drooping from the weight.
Notes:
Considered a pioneer species and not long-lived, Common Elderberry performs best with low competition from other woody plants and in full sun to light shade. Birds love the fruits and it's a battle of wits to harvest them before the birds get them all, and before the rock-hard seeds become too large. Timed right, it makes great pie, among other things. It blooms much later than the related Red-berried Elder (Sambucus racemosa), which is more common as a woodland understory shrub, has more pyramidal flower clusters, orange-brown pith in 2-year-old branches, and, as the common name suggests, has bright red berries. Its berries are inedible and mature when Common Elderberry is just starting to bloom. Sambucus canadensis is often listed as synonym Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis, considered by some to be a European counterpart and by others as the accepted name, with S. canadensis the synonym. The debate goes on. There may be several varieties of S. canadensis—information is rather sketchy and, again, there does not appear to be a consensus—but var. canadensis, characterized by hairs on the leaflet veins but not the surface, is found in Minnesota.
Native Plant Nurseries, Restoration and Landscaping Services ↓
Map of native plant resources in the upper midwest
More photos
Common Elderberry shrub
a small colony of Common Elderberry
fruiting Common Elderberry
a clump of stems
2-year old branch and pith colors
more leaves, with 9+ leaflets
fresh Elderberry pie - yum!
Common Elderberry shrub
a small colony of Common Elderberry
fruiting Common Elderberry
a clump of stems
2-year old branch and pith colors
more leaves, with 9+ leaflets
fresh Elderberry pie - yum!Photos by K. Chayka taken in Ramsey County. Other photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2015-05-24 16:57:54
I saw these blooming over 4th of July 2014 which was very confusing for me as I knew that my Elderberry(S. racemosa) up North were long past blooming. It was only after finding this page did I realize they were different species. Thanks for the great web site.
on: 2015-07-20 22:35:30
I have photos I can send to verify if needed.
on: 2017-02-23 12:51:36
I have several of these in a wet, low lying area in my woods. My son and I think the pith has such a soft texture.
on: 2017-07-23 16:21:21
I am trying to find a nursery that sells common elderberry bushes. Do you know what nurseries sell the elderberry bush/shrub?
on: 2017-07-23 16:57:13
David, we do not track who sells what so see "Where to buy native seeds and plants" that is shown on most pages of this website. If none of those vendors carry it perhaps one knows who does.
on: 2017-07-24 10:25:22
Prairie Restoration sells potted elderberry shrubs.
on: 2017-11-22 19:18:24
Umm... Aren't these poisonous?
on: 2017-11-23 04:37:43
Arlene, absolutely not - they're delicious. You might be thinking of some other berry-producing shrub but I don't know what.
on: 2018-06-27 12:22:01
This is growing in my wooded area among 100's of other things Im trying to identify. I also with Red Elderberry, but that blooms in spring smaller blossoms and leaves.
on: 2018-07-05 10:49:26
I found this growing along the garage at our lake home on Knife Lake
on: 2018-08-03 13:14:38
We have several of these on or near our property. They are late bloomers. When can we expect it to fruit? The umbrels have long since gone brown and rather hard looking.
on: 2018-08-03 13:20:59
Dan, we have several on our property. The fruit is mostly green now (Aug 3) but some is just starting to turn purple.
on: 2018-09-02 20:53:49
I have found several berrys this year along edges of a park and river as well on edge of river in Kenyan.
on: 2018-09-10 19:34:18
In the notes section of the information it says that the berries are (inedible) in otherwords not ok to eat. I sugjest a correction as not to confuse people.
on: 2018-09-10 20:26:43
Jess, I think you misread the comments. It's red-berried elder that has inedible berries, that are ripe when common elderberry is just starting to flower.
on: 2018-10-21 20:39:41
I haven't found any yet, but in regards to the comment above about being poisonous, yes. The mature berries are safe to eat, especially when cooked, but the bud, flowers, stems, leaves, root are not. produces under certain conditions hydrocyanic acid.
source: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000311.htm
on: 2019-02-04 08:29:30
Looking for tips on where to find wild sources this summer.
on: 2019-07-24 16:08:33
Booyah! I'll be making elderberry wine and jelly this fall. I found a nice stash of elderberries a long a creek in Crow Wing county. Just need to beat the bears and the birds.
on: 2020-03-03 09:40:18
Does anyone know of these growing in the wild in this area? I have seen them in Isanti County, but have moved and would like to find them where I am at? Thank You
on: 2020-05-08 07:32:47
For people wanting to buy. They had them available at the annual tree sales at Crow Wing County Soil and Water Conservation District. They may be available and your nearest SWCD.
on: 2020-08-06 14:08:06
Do you know if the flowers of common elderberry can be used for cordial like the flowers of sambucus nigra? Thanks!
on: 2021-09-13 21:46:45
One robust shrub in a long a wetland in Uncas that I've kept an eye on the last few years. Still producing fruit as of this past weekend.
on: 2022-08-12 22:27:51
Minnetonka resident called with a concern about poison hemlock in his wetland. After much conversation and concern it is wonderful to give news on a great miss-identification. Your notes about synonym Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis, debates and sketchy information is very helpful when answering folks' questions.
on: 2022-09-14 00:36:11
I've never planted or seen American elderberry but would like to plant some. What is the best way to start and what time of year should I plant them? It's currently mid September. Do they spread like other berries? Are they compatible with black berries or raspberries?
on: 2022-09-14 00:45:37
Mary, if you purchase elderberry from a reputable native plant nursery, they can tell you everything you need to know about growing it. Note that it suckers so you will need to manage containment in the future.
on: 2023-06-21 08:43:29
We have a bush that looks like elderberry..berries are bright red ...it is on the Forrest edge of some property where we planted some white pine
on: 2023-06-21 12:26:27
Lynda, check out red-berried elder, Sambucus racemosa.