Sambucus
elder, elderberry
3 species
3 subspecies and varieties
3 subspecies and varieties
Show only taxa with photos
Order by:
Scientific name
Common name
Display as:
Sambucus cerulea – blue elderberry
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Forest edge, fields, and roadsides from near sea level to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Forest edge, fields, and roadsides from near sea level to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Sambucus nigra – black elderberry
Distribution: Uncommon west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to northern Oregon; eastern North America where S. nigra var. canadensis is native. and var. nigra is more frequently escaped.
Habitat: Disturbed areas where rarely escaping from nearby cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from Europe and eastern North America
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Uncommon west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to northern Oregon; eastern North America where S. nigra var. canadensis is native. and var. nigra is more frequently escaped.
Habitat: Disturbed areas where rarely escaping from nearby cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from Europe and eastern North America
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Sambucus racemosa – red elderberry
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and eastern North America.
Habitat: A wide variety of habitats, typically in forests, forest edge, fields, and wet areas.
Origin: Native
Flowers: March-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and eastern North America.
Habitat: A wide variety of habitats, typically in forests, forest edge, fields, and wet areas.
Origin: Native
Flowers: March-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. arborescens – coast red elderberry
• var. melanocarpa – black elderberry
