A multitude of white flowers adorn the elderberry in the spring giving way to brilliant clusters of dark purple berries. Fruit can be used for jellies, pies, juice and wine. Berries and flowers are edible, but other parts of the plant are poisonous. Very adaptable but it does prefer moist to wet soil. Good for naturalization and roadside planting. Deer resistant. Important food source for birds, learn more.

Height : 5-15 feet Spread : 5-15 feet

Light : Full sun to part shade Water : Moist to wet

Soil : Sand, loam, clay Zone : 3-8

Leaves : Dark green in summer, insignificant yellow-green fall color

Stem : Yellowish-gray to gray-brown stems, insignificant smooth tan bark

Flower : Lightly scented showy flat-topped white flower clusters in June-July. Flowers quite profusely covering the shrub

Fruit : Purple-black berries in August-September produced in drooping clusters that will attract birds

Habit : Fast growing multi-stemmed shrub, broad and rounded crown with arching branches. Tends to sucker

Key Pollinators : Small sweat bees, small carpenter bees, mining bees

Pollinator Food Source: Nectar

Larval Host Plant : Grey hairstreak, morning cloak, pale tiger swallowtail