Sambucus racemosa

Sambucus racemosa is native to the U.S. and is in the Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family).

Photo Credit: © Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org.

Sambucus racemosa

Common Name: red elderberry

Other Common Names: European red elder, scarlet elderberry

Plant Functional Group: Deciduous broadleaf

Class > Order > Family: Magnoliopsida > Dipsacales > Adoxaceae

What does the species look like? Sambucus racemosa is a deciduous, perennial shrub or small tree. It can reach a height of 10 to 20 feet. Its leaves are green with a serrated edge and a strong, distinctive odor. The bark of red elderberry is dark reddish-brown with raised pores. The flowers are fragrant and creamy white, and arranged into dome-shaped clusters. Fruits are clusters of small, bright red, fleshy berries. Sambucus racemosa generally grows in riparian areas and can be found along streambanks, ravines, swamps, moist forest clearings, savannahs, wet meadows, and woodlands. It tolerates shade to full sun, but prefers a sunny exposure. Red elderberry prefers moist to wet soil with good drainage. Sambucus racemosa is a good food source and cover for birds and both small and large mammals. Hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to the flowers of red elderberry for the nectar. Birds help to distribute the seeds of red elderberry. Parts of red elderberry may be toxic without proper preparation.

Where is the species found?

States & Provinces

AB, AK, AZ, BC, CA, CO, CT, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, MB, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NB, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NL, NM, NS, NV, NY, OH, ON, OR, PA, PE, QC, RI, SD, SK, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY, YT

Special Considerations for Observing

If drought seems to be the cause of leaf color or fall for a plant, please make a comment about it for that observation.

Which phenophases should I observe?

	Do you see...?
Leaves	Breaking leaf buds One or more breaking leaf buds are visible on the plant. A leaf bud is considered "breaking" once a green leaf tip is visible at the end of the bud, but before the first leaf from the bud has unfolded to expose the leaf base at its point of attachment to the leaf stalk (petiole) or stem. More... How many buds are breaking? Less than 3 3 to 10 11 to 100 101 to 1,000 1,001 to 10,000 More than 10,000
	Leaves One or more live, unfolded leaves are visible on the plant. A leaf is considered "unfolded" once its entire length has emerged from a breaking bud, stem node or growing stem tip, so that the leaf base is visible at its point of attachment to the leaf stalk (petiole) or stem. Do not include fully dried or dead leaves. More... What percentage of the potential canopy space is full with leaves? Ignore dead branches in your estimate of potential canopy space. Less than 5% 5-24% 25-49% 50-74% 75-94% 95% or more
	Increasing leaf size A majority of leaves on the plant have not yet reached their full size and are still growing larger. Do not include new leaves that continue to emerge at the ends of elongating stems throughout the growing season. More... What percentage of full size are most leaves? Less than 25% 25-49% 50-74% 75-94% 95% or more
	Colored leaves One or more leaves show some of their typical late-season color, or yellow or brown due to drought or other stresses. Do not include small spots of color due to minor leaf damage, or dieback on branches that have broken. Do not include fully dried or dead leaves that remain on the plant. More... What percentage of the potential canopy space is full with non-green leaf color? Ignore dead branches in your estimate of potential canopy space. Less than 5% 5-24% 25-49% 50-74% 75-94% 95% or more
	Falling leaves One or more leaves with typical late-season color, or yellow or brown due to other stresses, are falling or have recently fallen from the plant. Do not include fully dried or dead leaves that remain on the plant for many days before falling. More...
Flowers	Flowers or flower buds One or more fresh open or unopened flowers or flower buds are visible on the plant. Include flower buds or inflorescences that are swelling or expanding, but do not include those that are tightly closed and not actively growing (dormant). Also do not include wilted or dried flowers. More... How many flowers and flower buds are present? For species in which individual flowers are clustered in flower heads, spikes or catkins (inflorescences), simply estimate the number of flower heads, spikes or catkins and not the number of individual flowers. Less than 3 3 to 10 11 to 100 101 to 1,000 1,001 to 10,000 More than 10,000
	Open flowers One or more open, fresh flowers are visible on the plant. Flowers are considered "open" when the reproductive parts (male stamens or female pistils) are visible between or within unfolded or open flower parts (petals, floral tubes or sepals). Do not include wilted or dried flowers. More... What percentage of all fresh flowers (buds plus unopened plus open) on the plant are open? For species in which individual flowers are clustered in flower heads, spikes or catkins (inflorescences), estimate the percentage of all individual flowers that are open. Less than 5% 5-24% 25-49% 50-74% 75-94% 95% or more
Fruits	Fruits One or more fruits are visible on the plant. For Sambucus racemosa, the fruit is berry-like and changes from green to to its appropriate ripened varietal color (which may be red, purple-black, yellow or white). More... How many fruits are present? Less than 3 3 to 10 11 to 100 101 to 1,000 1,001 to 10,000 More than 10,000
	Ripe fruits One or more ripe fruits are visible on the plant. For Sambucus racemosa, a fruit is considered ripe when it has turned to its appropriate ripened varietal color (which may be red, purple-black, yellow or white). More... What percentage of all fruits (unripe plus ripe) on the plant are ripe? Less than 5% 5-24% 25-49% 50-74% 75-94% 95% or more
	Recent fruit or seed drop One or more mature fruits or seeds have dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include obviously immature fruits that have dropped before ripening, such as in a heavy rain or wind, or empty fruits that had long ago dropped all of their seeds but remained on the plant. More... How many mature fruits have dropped seeds or have completely dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit? Less than 3 3 to 10 11 to 100 101 to 1,000 1,001 to 10,000 More than 10,000

What do these phenophases look like?

There is currently no photoguide available for this species. If you'd like help us create one, use the guidance document and species template provided here. Then send it via email to education@usanpn.org when it is complete.

ITIS information for red elderberry (ITIS TSN: 35326 )

USDA PLANTS profile for red elderberry (USDA Symbol: SARA2 )

Sambucus racemosa

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