Red elderberry.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Deciduous shrub

Light

Partial shade to full sun

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 5 to 10 days

Mature size

10 to 20 feet

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 3 to 7

Bloom time

Early to mid spring

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged to mimic its natural forest home. Watch for wilting leaves as a sign of thirst and prune away any dead wood to keep it looking tidy. It is quite hardy, so it won't need much fuss once it is settled in.

Watering

Water deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Feeding

Apply a balanced organic fertilizer once in early spring to support new growth.

Pruning

Prune in late winter while the plant is dormant to remove old or damaged stems.

Repotting

If growing in a container, move to a larger pot every few years as the root system expands.

Soil

Moist, well-draining, fertile soil

Soil pH

5.5 to 7.5

Temperature

-35 to 25°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Safety

People

All parts of the plant contain cyanogenic glycosides which can cause nausea or vomiting if ingested.

Pets

All parts of this plant are considered toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.

Children

Keep children away from the berries as they look tempting but are poisonous if eaten raw.

Contact allergens

Handling the stems or leaves may cause mild skin irritation for sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

The pollen can trigger seasonal allergies in susceptible people during the spring bloom.

Edibility

Raw berries are toxic, and the seeds remain harmful even after cooking. If the berries are eaten at all, they must be cooked thoroughly and the seeds removed.

How to identify it

• Pinnately compound leaves with serrated edges
• Conical clusters of small white flowers
• Bright red berries in late summer
• Light brown bark with warty lenticels

Height

2 to 4m

Spread

2 to 4m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

white, cream, 0.5 to 1cm

Fruit

red, Late summer

Problems to watch for

• AphidsCommon
• Powdery MildewCommon
• CankerUncommon
• Leaf SpotUncommon
• Root RotUncommon
• Verticillium WiltUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

cuttings, seed

When to plant

spring, autumn

Plant in groups with other moisture loving woodland shrubs to create a naturalistic thicket.

Grows well with

• Ferns · They thrive in the same moist, shaded conditions as the elderberry.
• Bleeding Heart · These woodland plants share similar soil and light requirements.

Similar species

• Black Elderberry · Similar growth habit but produces dark purple to black fruit.

Science

Family

Viburnaceae

Genus

Sambucus

Order

Dipsacales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Northern Hemisphere across North America and Europe.

Conservation

This plant is widespread and not currently of conservation concern.

It naturally colonizes disturbed sites and forest edges where it provides essential cover for small wildlife.

Value to wildlife

nectar source, provides food for birds

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

ornamental shrub, wildlife habitat, erosion control

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I eat the berries raw?

No, raw berries contain toxins. Cooking reduces them, but the seeds stay toxic, so many sources advise against eating red elderberries at all.

Does it need full sun?

It prefers partial shade but will tolerate full sun in cooler regions.

Where the name comes from

Sambucus is the ancient Latin name for the elder tree, while racemosa refers to the flowers being arranged in racemes.

Good to know

• The red elderberry is often found in moist forests and along stream banks.
• Native peoples historically used the hollow stems to make flutes and whistles.
• It is a very hardy shrub that thrives in cooler climates.

Also in

• Plants toxic to cats and dogs