Sambucus canadensis L.

Common Elderberry; American Elderberry; Black Elderberry

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Common Elderberry is a native deciduous shrub in the Haw family (Viburnaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Common Elderberry occurs on the banks of creek and rivers, on the shores of ponds and lakes, in low woods, and along wet roadside ditches. It is a deciduous multi-trunked shrub reaching heights of 12-15 feet. The bark is gray-brown in color with conspicuous lenticels. The stems are thin walled with a large area of white pith. The leaves are opposite, petiolate, and odd pinnately compound with 7-9 leaflets. The leaflets are lanceolate to elliptic in outline, pubescent along the veins, with serrate margins. The leaves have a rank odor when crushed. Flowers are produced in terminal compound cymes. The individual flowers have 5 white petals. The fruit is a black drupe. The fruit of Common Elderberry are eaten by a wide variety of bird species. The fruit can be made into jelly, jam, or wine. The flowers can be battered and fried to make fritters. Common Elderberry has also been used in herbal medicine mainly to treat breathing problems and fevers. All parts of the plant except the flowers and ripe fruit contain cyanogenic glycoside and are toxic if eaten. Children often make “pea shooters” from the hollowed-out stems of Common Elderberry. Common Elderberry is sometimes available from nurseries. It prefers a sunny site with moist to wet soil. Several cultivars with purple foliage, variegated foliage, double flowers or berry colors other than black are available.—A. Diamond

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Native

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