Elderberry Sambucus nigra
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Elderberry:
- Phonetic Spelling
- sam-BYOO-kus NY-gruh
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Large multi-stemmed shrub or small tree that prefers well-drained soil in the full sun to partial shade. It grows rapidly through suckering and forms colonies easily. It does best in a background planting and with enough room to naturalize.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Spider mites and aphids are occasional problems. Cankers, leaf spot, and powdery mildew do occur. Branches are susceptible to wind and winter snow breakage. Plants grow quickly and aggressively and it can be weedy in some areas.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Sun to Shade Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Albovariegata'
Cream variegation around leaves - 'Black Lace'
- Marginata
- Variegata
- 'Albovariegata'
- 'Albovariegata', 'Black Lace', Marginata, Variegata
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Albovariegata'
Cream variegation around leaves - 'Black Lace'
- Marginata
- Variegata
- 'Albovariegata'
- 'Albovariegata', 'Black Lace', Marginata, Variegata
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sambucus
- Species:
- nigra
- Family:
- Viburnaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- This plant has been used in traditional medicine.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract butterflies. Fruits attract birds.
- Edibility:
- Flowers and blue-black berries. Flowers are used to make wines and cordials and the berries can be made into jam and syrup.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Lustrous glossy black fruits 3/8" across in late summer to fall.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Description:
- Yellowish white to cream flowers on large 5" to 8" flat-topped umble-like cymes in summer. Flowers smell musky.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green pinnately compound leaves; 3 to 9 leaflets; unpleasant odor when crushed
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Weedy
