A catalog of Native North American Plants: Sambucus canadensis

Sambucus canadensis

Common name: Elderberry, Elder, Sweet elder, Black elderberry

A member of the honeysuckle family, Elderberry is a shrub 1.5 – 3 m tall. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, pinnate with five to nine leaflets. In summer, it bears large (20–30 cm diameter) of white flowers above the foliage, the individual flowers 5–6 mm diameter, with five petals.

The fruit (known as an elderberry) is a dark purple to black berry 3–5 mm diameter, produced in drooping clusters in the fall.

The flower, known as elderflower, is edible, as well as the ripe berries when cooked. Other parts of the plant, such as leaves, stems, roots, seeds and unripe fruits, are toxic. Uses for the fruit include wine, jelly and dye. Leaves and inner bark can be used as an insecticide and a dye.

Dye color: Brown, Yellow, Purple