American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)Estimated Height at Pickup: 2 3', 3 gal A. k. a common elderberry and black elder. A well known, fast growing native shrub with lightly lemon scented flowers and fruit highly desirable to wildlife, particularly songbirds. An adaptable addition to a native edible garden, flower, or pollinator garden. A native alternative to various wildly invasive honeysuckle bushes: elderberry has a similar growth habit and requirements, so is a shoe in colonizer to

downy false indigo and prairie shoestring

but tolerates Full Sun with sufficient water

Notable Wildlife Interactions: Hosts moths such as the eyed baileya

moths such as the cecropia and buttercup moths

This is a fast growing plant

and must have a significant amount of sand in its soil

they’ll never produce a nut crop

Fruit: Seeds are small

and opossum

It is a member of the largely tropical 'Custard Apple' family

it will form a thicket if possible and requires more water than most landscaping plants

Produces a reliable nut crop valued by wildlife