Sambucus racemosa ssp. pubens var. arborescens
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RED ELDERBERRY, RED ELDER
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Pronounced: sam-BOO-kus rass-ih-MO-sah
GROWING GUIDE
Geographic Origin:
Western portions of Alaska to California.
Plant Group:
Shrubs.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: 4-7, 14-17.
USDA zones:
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Flowering period: Spring.
Flowering attributes: Pyramidal clusters of small white flowers followed by clusters of bright red berries.
Leaf attributes: Lance-shaped, green leaves divided into five to seven leaflets.
Light: Bright, partial or dappled shade is best but will take full sun.
Soil: Moist, humus rich soil.
Propagation Methods: Sow fresh seed in autumn and place in a cold frame; may take up to two springs before they germinate. Alternatively, sow seed in spring after cold storage. | Softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer. | Hardwood cuttings.
Pruning Methods: Prune severely when dormant to keep it from getting leggy.
Rainy Side Notes
Archaeological digs on sites that are hundreds of years old have produced caches of red elderberries, which is indicative of the importance of this berry as a food
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Sambucus tends to get very leggy, but severely pruning it annually while dormant keeps it bushier. I have one of them that I let be leggy, as it has an interesting shape to its framework and so I let it show off. A legman would love it.
This is an excellent tree for birds, as they relish the berries. The birds spread the seed around, but I find to extirpate the sprouted seedlings in areas where they are not wanted is a small price to pay for having these native plants. Last year I found a robin nesting in the elderberry that grows at the corner of my home. This tree is one I prune annually to keep it bushier. It was obviously bushy enough to hide a nest that I did not see until I came too close to it. An alarmed robin quickly took to flight. It gave an alarm call, as it took wing, to distract me from its nest. Too late, I knew a nest was there. I carefully peered in, spied the nest in the crotch of some branches and then backed away from it. The rest of the season, I steered clear of the elderberry, until I knew the babies were gone.
If you are creating wildlife habitat in your Pacific Northwest garden, this is one tree you should consider growing.
Debra Teachout-Teashon
Photographed in author's garden.
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