Alphabetical Plant Listing

Sambucus canadensis (American Elder)

American Black Elderberry, American Elder, Common Elderberry, Black Elder, Mexican Elderberry, Common Elder, Elderberry, Tapiro, Sauco, Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis


Sambucus canadensis (American Elder) is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub of loose open habit with arching, spreading branches, clothed in the lush foliage of sharply serrated, bright green leaves composed of 7 leaflets. In early to mid-summer, a profusion of lemon-scented white flowers appear in large flat clusters. They give way to black elderberry fruits later in the season. Attractive to birds, the fruits may be used to make jams, jellies, and elderberry wine. Good shrub for naturalized areas where suckering spread may be appreciated.

  • Grows up to 5-12 ft. tall and wide (150-360 cm). Spreads freely by root suckers to form colonies.
  • Performs best in full sun or part shade, in medium to wet, well-drained soils. Best foliage color when grown in full sun. Drought tolerant.
  • Excellent choice as a single specimen plant, informal screens, or hedges.
  • May be subject to verticillium wilt and aphids. Deer resistant.
  • Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter.
  • Prune hard in spring to maintain the best foliage and habit.
  • This plant has low severity poison characteristics. All parts may cause discomfort if ingested, although the berries can be edible if cooked.
  • Toxic to horses, toxic to humans.
  • Native to North America

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Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 9
Heat Zones 1 – 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, A1, A2, A3
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Sambucus - Elder
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid)
Height 5' – 12' (150cm – 3.6m)
Spread 5' – 12' (150cm – 3.6m)
Spacing 60" – 144" (150cm – 360cm)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, California, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Clay Soil, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage

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Unkas Photo, SunGrownNomad, Tlindsayg / Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 9
Heat Zones 1 – 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, A1, A2, A3
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Sambucus - Elder
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid)
Height 5' – 12' (150cm – 3.6m)
Spread 5' – 12' (150cm – 3.6m)
Spacing 60" – 144" (150cm – 360cm)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, California, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Clay Soil, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Sambucus - Elder

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