# American black elderberry (*Sambucus canadensis*) The American black elderberry is a bushy plant with beautiful clusters of white flowers and dark berries. It grows in many places and is loved by birds and butterflies! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 72 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![American black elderberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sambucus_canadensis.jpg&width=800) Photo: Cmeusburger, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sambucus_canadensis.jpg) ## Appearance The American black elderberry has large, flat-topped clusters of creamy white flowers that mature into drooping bunches of dark purple, nearly black berries. Its distinct compound leaves are typically bright green with serrated edges, adding a lush texture to its shrubby form. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Dipsacales - **Family:** Viburnaceae - **Genus:** Sambucus ## Interesting facts - Its hollow stems were historically used by indigenous peoples to make flutes! - Raw elderberries can upset your tummy, so always cook them first! - The berries get their deep purple color from powerful natural pigments! - Tiny elderberry flowers can be used to make delicious, fizzy drinks! ## Special abilities - **Berry Broadcaster:** American black elderberry produces abundant, nutritious berries that attract birds, helping it spread seeds far and wide. - **Wetlands Wanderer:** American black elderberry can thrive in moist, even swampy soils, allowing it to colonize diverse watery habitats. - **Rapid Regenerator:** American black elderberry can grow quickly and resprout vigorously after pruning or disturbance, ensuring its survival. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 200-600 cm - **Spread:** 150-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** [Cedar Waxwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar-waxwing) (*Bombycilla cedrorum*) — consumes its ripe berries - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses its leaves and twigs ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not eat the berries raw, as they can make you feel sick. Always ask an adult before tasting any wild plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American black elderberry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is American black elderberry? 200-600 cm ### How wide does American black elderberry spread? 150-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on American black elderberry? 0.5-1 cm ### When does American black elderberry bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is American black elderberry edible? Yes ### Is American black elderberry toxic? Mild ### What is American black elderberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Ambler Heights Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ambler-heights-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arrowmont-school-of-arts-and-crafts) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Ashton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashton-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Blackstone Boulevard–Cole Avenue–Grotto Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackstone-boulevard-cole-avenue-grotto-avenue-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Broadway-Armory Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-armory-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Brooklyn Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooklyn-botanic-garden) — New York, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see American black elderberry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-black-elderberry) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [American black elderberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-black-elderberry)