American elderberry

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Elderberry flowers

Elderberry fruiting

Elderberry bud and leaf scar

Elderberry flowers

Elderberry stem

Elderberry infloresence

Elderberry bud

Elderberry leaf

Elderberry leaf

Elderberry

Elderberry

Elderberry

Morphology

Stem

Erect, usually several, glabrous, somewhat waxy; branches yellowish brown, pith white when young.

Leaves

Opposite, stalks 2-3.5 inches long, odd-pinnately compound; leaflets 5-9, broadly lanceolate to elliptic, 2-5 inches long, 1-2.75 inches wide, glabrous and dark green above, sometimes pubescent and pale green below; margins toothed; tips tapering to points.

Inflorescence

Rounded or flat-topped clusters, to 12 inches wide, terminal.

Flower

5-parted; calyx lobes minute or absent; corollas tiny, about 1/5 inch wide, creamy white; stamens 5, filaments white, anthers pale yellow.

Fruit

Berry-like, juicy, about 1/4 inch in diameter, glabrous, dark purple, in drooping clusters; seeds 3-5, nut-like, yellowish.

Ecology

Habitat

Moist woodlands, thickets, roadsides, stream banks, and ditches.

Distribution

Throughout except southwest corner of Kansas.

Practical Information

Toxicity

The leaves of elderberry are poisonous to cattle and sheep.

Uses

The berries are a good source of vitamin C and can be eaten raw, cooked, or dried. Juice from the fruits can be made into jelly or wine. Native Americans used elderberry to treat colds, fevers, headaches, indigestion, and rheumatism.

Additional Notes

Synonyms

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.