# red-berried elder (*Sambucus racemosa*) The red-berried elder is a bushy plant with bright red berries. It grows in many places and is loved by birds who eat its tasty fruits! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 43 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Red Elder ![red-berried elder](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sambucus_racemosa_%281%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Algirdas at Lithuanian Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sambucus_racemosa_%281%29.jpg) ## Appearance The red-berried elder has prominent upright clusters of small, bright red berries that ripen in summer. Its small, creamy-white flowers grow in dense, conical or pyramid-shaped clusters. The large, green leaves are made of several pointed leaflets. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Dipsacales - **Family:** Viburnaceae - **Genus:** Sambucus ## Interesting facts - Elderberry wood is hollow, making it perfect for crafting traditional flutes! - Native American tribes traditionally used elderberry bark to make a dark black dye! - Some birds love these berries so much they can turn their droppings bright red! - This plant's quick growth helps it pop up rapidly after forest fires! ## Special abilities - **Beacon Berries:** Red-berried elder has bright red, upright berry clusters that help it attract birds for efficient seed dispersal. - **Winter Warrior:** Red-berried elder can withstand cold winters because it is deciduous, dropping leaves to conserve energy. - **Speedy Sprout:** Red-berried elder can grow very quickly, helping it fill in open spaces after forest disturbances. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 200-600 cm - **Spread:** 150-400 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — eats ripe berries - **Eaten by:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — consumes the fruit - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits flowers for nectar - **Shelter:** [Deer Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — uses dense shrubs for cover ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [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. - [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. - [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:** 3/5 · Moderate Do not eat the berries without asking an adult, as some parts of the plant can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify red-berried 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 red-berried elder? 200-600 cm ### How wide does red-berried elder spread? 150-400 cm ### How big are the flowers on red-berried elder? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does red-berried elder bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is red-berried elder edible? No ### Is red-berried elder toxic? Moderate ### What is red-berried elder's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cambridge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cambridge-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cougar-mountain-regional-wildland-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Devil's Kitchen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/devils-kitchen) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve - [Enfield Shaker Museum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/enfield-shaker-museum) — New Hampshire, US · Museum - [Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gibraltar-rock-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/joseph-e-ibberson-conservation-area) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park [View all places to see red-berried elder](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-berried-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: [Red-berried Elder: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-berried-elder)