FNPS Plant Database

Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis

elderberry, American elder

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

elderberry, American elder

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis

Family:

Adoxaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

10-15 ft, at least as wide as it is tall, sometimes wider.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

blue,purple,black

Phenology:

Deciduous in the north, evergreen in the south. Blooms spring-summer (into fall in the south).

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Casual settings, wetland edge or screen plant. Rain gardens and bioswales. Long bloom period.

Considerations:

Many would consider this plant weedy: it does self seed and spread via rhizomes. It's wood is weak; stems break easily. Use where these characteristics do not matter. Prune to help it keep reasonable is size and shape. Cut to the ground periodically to make more bushy and form a screen. Clonal: sends up shoots in the vicinity.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed. Separation and planting of suckers. Cuttings.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Stays wet ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Loam

Soil pH:

Adaptable

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars, Hummingbirds, Birds, Mammals

Flowers attract many pollinators.

Fruits popular with birds.

Native Habitats:

Disturbed wetland edges, wet roadsides, etc.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Fruits used for creation of wine, jam/jelly.



Flowers sometimes used in salads or cooked and can be used to make a light wine similar to champagne.

General Comments:

Used extensively in Indian cultures. Fruits are very high in Vitamin C.

Citations:

Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell.  1999.  Native Florida Plants.  Gulf Publishing Company.  Houston, TX.



Huegel, Craig, N.  2010.  Native plant landscaping for Florida wildlife.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL. (wildlife uses)



Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native Plants.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



University of Tennessee Extension Service.  Desired Ph Range and salt tolerance of common nursery plants.    https://extension.tennessee.edu/mtnpi/Documents/handouts/Fertility/Desired-pH-Range-List.pdf   accessed 2021.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu /).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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