Sambucus canadensis

Elderberry

A profusion of tiny lemon-scented creamy white flowers appear in dense, flat-topped clusters up to 10” across in early summer. Flowers are followed by clusters of black elderberry fruits in late summer. Fruits are sometimes used to make jams, jellies, pie fillings, and elderberry wine. The plants form large lumps with attractive dissected foliage.

Butterflies and other insects are attracted to the blooms. The fruits are eaten by mammals and many species of songbirds. It makes an excellent nesting site for birds and provides cover for quail and pheasants.

Group or mass in naturalized areas where suckering spread is desired. Can be used in moist shrub borders, as a screen or background plant, around streams, ponds, ditches, or low spots.

  • Native, deciduous shrub
  • Fragrant white flower clusters produce edible berries
  • Good for naturalizing

  • Category: Shrub, Native
  • Hardiness Zone: 4-8
  • Height: 5-12 ft
  • Spread: 6-10 ft
  • Bloom Color: White
  • Foliage Color: Green
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Landscape Characteristics
Flowers
Fragrance
Ornamental Fruit
Specialty Use
Butterfly Garden
Wildlife Garden
Classification by Use
Mass Planting
Native
Habit
Spreading
Upright
Light Requirement
Part Shade
Part Sun
Sun
Foliage
Deciduous
Season of Interest (Flowering)
Spring
Summer
Season of Interest (Foliage)
Spring
Summer
Growth Rate
Fast
Soil Moisture
Average Water
Well-Drained
Wet Soil/Wetlands
Foliage Color
Dark Green
Growing & Maintenance Tips for Sambucus canadensis

American elderberry tolerates a wide variety of wet to dry soils but prefers rich, moist, well-drained, soil in sun to partial shade. Plants will spread by root suckers to form colonies if suckers are not removed. Flowers are formed on old wood so prune right after flowering to get blooms the following year.