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.
Flowers: March-July
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Bees, flies, wasps, beetles, sawflies
Large shrub to 6 meters tall; the twigs with a soft pithy center.
Opposite, pinnately compound with 5-7 lanceolate leaflets.
White or creamy, minute; in large pyramidal clusters at ends of branches.
Small berries 5-6 mm across, usually bright red, but sometimes purplish-black.
Look for opposite pinnately compound leaves, pyramidal clusters of tiny white flowers, and red or purple-black fruits (S. nigra ssp. caerulea has flat-topped flower clusters and bluish-white fruits).
Publication: Sp. Pl. 1: 270. 1753.
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var. arborescens – coast red elderberry
Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California. -
var. melanocarpa – black elderberry Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Sambucus racemosa in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Sambucus racemosa checklist entry
OregonFlora: Sambucus racemosa information
E-Flora BC: Sambucus racemosa atlas page
CalPhotos: Sambucus racemosa photos
