June Shrub of the Month-Elderberry

If ever there were a Cinderella story in the plant world, it would have to be Sambucus canadensis, more commonly known as elderberry.

This native was considered a weed by the average Joe up until about 25 years ago. It pops up along roadsides and hangs out with shady characters like invasive honeysuckle in overgrown or neglected areas.

It wasn’t always this way. Hippocrates called elderberry “nature’s medicine chest,” and the Native Americans used it for medicinal purposes and a dye. Like Cinderella, elderberry was all work, work, work, and no play. But the past few years have changed that. Elderberry is now dressed in her best and known for the numerous qualities she possessed all along.  

So many cultivars have hit the market with beautiful foliage like purple, lime, and variegated. Most either have pink or white flowers. 

The true native can grow up to 12′ high and wide. It blooms in June-July with white flowers, followed by dark berries. Jams, jellies, and wine can be made with ripe berries. It prefers full sun and wet to moderate areas. This native is LOVED by wildlife. 

The cultivars vary in size, read your tags and do your homework before choosing, especially if you prefer the native or “nativars” over the non-natives.

-For edible fruits, ‘Adams’ or ‘York’ are good choices. These cultivars of our native elderberry resemble the native elderberry but have better fruit production. 

-‘Black Beauty’-a a cultivar of the non-native European elderberry. Dark purple foliage. Pink flowers.

-‘Black Lace’- another non-native with finely-cut purple foliage and pink flowers.

-‘Lemon Lace’-similar to ‘Black Lace’ but with lemony-lime colored foliage.

-‘Variegata’-As with the other fancy-dress elderberries, this is a non-native with variegated leaves edged with a crisp white. Flowers are white.

-‘Lanciniata’ Sometimes sold as ‘Acutiloba’-This is a cultivar of the native with deeply cut leaves and a shorter height of 5-8’.

-‘Aurea’-another cultivar of our native elderberry with golden foliage and red fruit. 

What I love about this plant-The native is beautiful and beneficial to pollinators and other wildlife, including humans with its many medicinal qualities. Both the native and non-native comes in many cultivars these days with beautiful flowers and foliage.

What’s not so great-It spreads by suckers, so don’t expect that one plant you see or purchase to stay single. It can be cut back to maintain size, but plant it where it can spread and be beneficial to wildlife. Although the fruits are high in antioxidants and other healthy ingredients, the roots, stems, seeds, and leaves do have a moderate level of toxicity to humans and pets.

Words and photos by Jo Batzer

© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com, All rights reserved.