General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 5a -28.9 °C (-20 °F) to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
Plant Height: 6 - 12 feet
Plant Spread: 3 - 6 feet
Leaves: Good fall color
Deciduous
Fruit: Showy
Edible to birds
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: White
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Flowering Tree
Will Naturalize
Edible Parts: Fruit
Eating Methods: Raw
Cooked
Fermented
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Resistances: Salt tolerant
Toxicity: Other: Non Toxic - fruit very edible
Pollinators: Flies
Containers: Not suitable for containers

Image
Common names
  • Elderberry
  • Black Elder
  • European Elderberry
  • European Elder
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Sambucus nigra
  • Synonym: Sambucus nigra subsp. nigra

Photo Gallery
Location: Johns Island, SC
Date: 2015-05-22
Location: My Garden in Janesville, WI
Date: 2020-08-20
Location: Hatton, Feltham, Hounslow, London, England, United Kingdom
Date: 2023-06-10
Location: Willow Valley Communities Lakes Campus,Willow Street, Pennsylvania
Date: 2023-07-30

Date: 2022-06-26
Location: KYLE
Date: 2019-04-06
Location: Ingleside. Illinois
Date: 2022-06-09
Location: Botanical garden of Barcelona (Spain)
Date: 2022-04-16
Location: treeline
Date: 2017-05-28
Planted years back. Thought I had lost it.  First blooms ever!!!
  • Uploaded by pod
Location: Morpeth, Northumberland UK
Date: 2023-09-27
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-06-07
Location: Bea’s garden
Date: 2023-06-15
Location: Indiana  Zone 5
Date: 2011-07-10
in the wild

Date: c. 1800-05
illustration by P. J. Redouté from Duhamel's 'Traité des arbres
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2013-08-23
Location: Kyle
Date: 2019-02-13
the first signs of blooms

photo credit: Willow
Location: KYLE
Date: 2019-04-13
Location: Kyle
Date: 2019-02-02
Location: tree line
Date: 2017-05-28
The blooms are delicate but the fragrance is wonderful!
  • Uploaded by pod
Location: Cherokee County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden, Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-04-30

Date: 2022-08-16
Location: Hortus Lapidea
Date: 2023-08-22

Date: June 12, 2021

photo credit: Martin Röll
Location: tree line
Date: 2017-05-28
showing leaves only
  • Uploaded by pod
Location: Brownstown PA 17508
Date: 2020-06-12
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-06-07
Not yet ready for harvest
Location: Morpeth, Northumberland UK
Date: 2019-07-03
Location: Lincolnshire, England, UK
Date: May
Elderflowers
Location: Sherwood, Oregon
Date: 2017-05-19
Location: Holladay, UT
Fruit, before it was ripe
Location: West Valley City, UT
Date: 2012-07-15
Second year, grown from cutting.

photo credit: H. Zell

photo credit: H. Zell
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-08-13
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-08-13
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-08-13
Black Berries

Date: June 12, 2021
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-06-07
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-06-07
Location: Linconshire, England, UK
Date: May
Branch of Elderberry bush in full bloom
Location: Chicago Botanical Gardens
Date: 2013-05-20
Location: Holladay, UT
Location: MN
Date: August 2016
Native plant
Location: Holladay, UT
Location: Sherwood, Oregon
Date: 2017-05-19
Location: Chicago Botanical Gardens
Date: 2013-05-20
Location: West Valley City, UT
Date: 2012-07-15
Location: central Illinois (Lake Sangchris St. Pk.)
Date: 2017-08-05
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2016-08-01

Date: 2011-01-16
Photo courtesy of: Dick Culbert
Location: In my garden. Poland.

photo credit: H. Zell
Location: Indiana  Zone 5
Date: 2011-07-10
still green fruit (unripe)

photo credit: H. Zell
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-08-13
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-08-13
Green berries
Location: central Illinois
Date: 6-25-11
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-08-14

Date: June 12, 2021

photo credit: Cppgx
This plant is tagged in:
Image Image

Comments:
  • Posted by SCButtercup (Simpsonville SC - Zone 7b) on Aug 28, 2014 4:07 AM concerning plant:
    An older woman who loved herbs and plants once told me that folklore says this plant "guards" a home, so it was traditionally planted near the door. When I have seen this plant growing around old homes, it has been by the front porch, so maybe there is something to it.
    The dark berries that form after the umbels bloom make a lovely jam.
  • Posted by okus (Lincolnshire, UK) on Sep 22, 2011 8:08 AM concerning plant:
    British native plant found growing wild in hedgerows everywhere. Tough, can be a weed, but produces edible berries which not only feed the birds but make excellent wine. The flowers too make a very acceptable Elderflower Cordial.
Plant Events from our members
dorothythomas98 On October 5, 2014 Transplanted
» Post your own event for this plant

« Add a new plant to the database

« The Plants Database Front Page