# blue elder (*Sambucus cerulea*) The blue elder is a lovely shrub with beautiful blue berries. It grows in sunny places and is a favorite among birds and other wildlife. The flowers are pretty and attract many pollinators! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Sunny areas and open woods - **Also known as:** Blue Elderberry ![blue elder](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sambucus_caerulea_8012.jpg&width=800) Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Wsiegmund assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sambucus_caerulea_8012.jpg) ## Appearance The blue elder is a large shrub or small tree distinguished by its powdery, sky-blue berries, which grow in large, flat-topped clusters. Its creamy-white flowers also form impressive flat-topped sprays. Unlike many berries, its unique glaucous coating gives it a distinctly hazy blue hue. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Dipsacales - **Family:** Viburnaceae - **Genus:** Sambucus ## Interesting facts - Blue elder's flowers were once used to make a refreshing, bubbly cordial drink! - Indigenous peoples historically crafted musical flutes from its hollow stems! - Its scientific name 'cerulea' literally means sky-blue, perfectly describing its berries! - The mysterious white powder on its blue berries is called a 'bloom'! ## Special abilities - **Sunscreen Berries:** Blue elder's berries have a white powdery coating protecting them from sun and moisture loss. - **Fire Resilience:** Blue elder can quickly regrow from its root crown even after severe wildfires, helping it survive. - **Tiny Home Builder:** Blue elder has hollow stems that offer perfect shelter for many small insects to live inside. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-900 cm - **Spread:** 200-600 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Western Bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — collects nectar and pollen, aiding plant reproduction. - **Eats:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — eats the ripe, nutrient-rich blue berries. - **Eats:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — enjoys snacking on the plant's abundant blue berries. - **Shelter:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — uses the hollow stems as nesting sites. - **Eats:** Beet Armyworm (*Spodoptera exigua*) — larvae feed on the leaves and flowers. ## 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. - [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. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## 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 trying new plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify blue elder? 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 blue elder? 300-900 cm ### How wide does blue elder spread? 200-600 cm ### How big are the flowers on blue elder? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does blue elder bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is blue elder edible? Yes ### Is blue elder toxic? Mild ### What is blue elder's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Alder Creek Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alder-creek-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Conejo Valley Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conejo-valley-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Atwell Mill Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atwell-mill-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Knights Ferry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/knights-ferry) — California, US · Historic Site - [Mountain Home Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mountain-home-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Pasadena Civic Center District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pasadena-civic-center-district) — California, US · Historic District [View all places to see blue elder](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/blue-elder) ## 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: [Blue Elder: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-elder)