Blue Elderberry
Sambucus cerulea, bare root, large crown
Description: This handsome, deciduous shrub, with its multiple stems, reaches 6-12’ in little time. Can colonize.
The bright green leaves grow from stems as pithy as raspberry canes and surround the distinct flat-topped clusters of flowers. Shrubs yield an impressive amount of delectable, blue-black berries with a high vitamin content that are used in pies, wines and preserves. Birds and other wildlife flock to the berries as they ripen. Do take care not to eat the berries uncooked.
Drought-tolerant, sun to part-shade/sun, Food source for native butterfly caterpillars and native wildlife; food source, shelter, or nesting sites for birds; Among species considered to be the most valuable wildlife plants. A nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds.
photo credit: Blue elderberry - Brewton Road, J Brew, Flickr, (CC BY-SA 2.0)
photo credit: Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea (blue elderberry), Joe Decruyenaere, (CC BY-SA 2.0)
