Sambucus racemosa

Common Names

Red Elderberry, Coastal Red Elderberry, Black Elderberry, Red-Berried Elder, Red-Berried Elderberry, Scarlet Elder, Bunchberry Elder, Mountain Red Elderberry, Rocky Mountain Elderberry, Red European Elder, European Red Elder (Historical), American Red Elder (Historical), Stinking Elderberry, Stinking Elder, Sutherland Gold Elderberry, Lemony Lace Elderberry

Summary

Sambucus racemosa is a deciduous shrub or small tree with an arching habit, typically 6 to 20 feet tall and wide, featuring opposite, pinnately compound leaves with 5–7 leaflets and showy white flowers in large pyramidal or conical clusters, followed by bright red berries (sometimes purplish-black in some varieties). Native to Europe, temperate Asia, and North America, it grows in moist woodlands, thickets, stream banks, fields, fence rows and roadsides, often forming patches rather than a dominant understory.

Preferring full sun to part shade, it thrives in moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils and tolerates wet soils; hardy in USDA zones 3–7; spreads by root suckers to form colonies, making it suitable for erosion control and habitat restoration in moist sites. Propagation is by seed with stratification or by cuttings; blooms on old wood so spring pruning reduces flowering, while hard pruning can help young plants develop a full habit and older plants may be trimmed after flowering. Wildlife value includes nectar for hummingbirds and berries for birds; berries can be cooked into jelly or wine, while raw berries and seeds are toxic.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

8-12 feet

Spread

8-12 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-7

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun; tolerates Partial Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Deep, well-drained loamy soil with neutral pH.

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

5.0-8.0, neutral soil pH is ideal for Sambucus racemosa

Bloom Color

White to creamy white

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow, Light green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow to germinate and reach maturity, with rapid sprout growth in the first year

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and birds