Sambucus canadensis
[ Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis ]

Common Elderberry, American Black Elderberry

[ click on any image below to see larger version ]

Family: Viburnaceae (Moschatel family)

Mid-Atlantic bloom time: late April - July
Mid-Atlantic fruit ripe: July - August

While the ripe fruits (known as elderberries) of Common Elderberry are considered edible, all other parts fo the plant (including unripe elderberries) contain potentially toxic chemicals. It is closely related to the European Elderberry (Sambucus nigra), and it is sometimes treated as a subspecies of that as Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis.

1 June 2019 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA	8 June 2026 Great Falls National Park, Great Falls, VA	17 June 2023 G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area, Linden, VA	17 June 2023 G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area, Linden, VA
1 June 2019 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA	8 June 2026 Great Falls National Park, Great Falls, VA	8 June 2026 Great Falls National Park, Great Falls, VA	1 June 2019 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA
17 June 2023 G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area, Linden, VA	8 June 2026 Great Falls National Park, Great Falls, VA	2 June 2024 Riverbend Park, Great Falls, VA	2 June 2024 Riverbend Park, Great Falls, VA

References

1:   U.S. Forest Service, Plant of the Week: American Black Elderberry

>>  return to list of flora