Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)
Red Elderberry is an important and beautiful wildlife shrub/ small tree. It is very easy to grow in the native home garden. In the Spring it is bedecked in big clusters of white flowers that later become clusters of little red berries. These red berries are edible when cooked (toxic to humans when raw), but are better suited as food for birds and other wildlife. Red Elderberry shrubs grow quickly and make beautiful living screens, large hedges, and lovely focal points for garden beds.
This beautiful shrub is commonly found on riparian forest edges and prefers a bit of moisture. However, as birds eat the berries and distribute the consumed seeds, they can also be found upland in drier regions such as the dry shade beneath trees. They can be found in vernally wet meadows that dry out through the summer, and have evolved some drought adaption once established. They can grow in full sun to full shade. Generally they need more moisture as their sun exposure increases. They tend to flower more in full sun leading to a bigger berry production. They grow better in clay rather than sandy soils.
Red Elderberry flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees. They are a host plant for 37 species of butterflies and moths including the Echo Azure Butterfly. The stems are hollow which provide nesting cavities for native bees including mason bees. They're an important food source for quite a few mammals including bear, deer, and elk. And, of course, they are loved by song birds who use the shrub for cover, nesting, and food. Elderberry seeds are some of the native seeds that benefit from summer sowing. They require a warm moist stratification period followed by a cold moist period.
Each seed packet contains 60 seeds and germination instructions are included.
Red Elderberry at a glance
- Ave. growth dimensions - 8-18 ft tall x 10 ft wide
- Dormancy - Winter deciduous
- Plant type - Shrub/ small tree
- Sun - Sun - shade
- Water - Moist - dry shade
- Flowering time - Late March - May
- Flower color - White
- Soil preference - Adaptable