Red Elderberry

I found a specimen planted in the Midwest Collection on the east side of Morton Arboretum in June 2015. It is not all by itself, but surr...Read Moreounded by other trees and shrubs so it is partly shaded and in a cooler spot that it likes. All parts of the plant are poisonous for humans, but the fruit is very good for wildlife. Native to southeast Canada, New England, NY, PA, down the Appalachians, around the Great Lakes, and some scattered spots in the Rocky Mts and south Manitoba. The seed of the plant at Morton Arboretum in the Midwest Collection was collected at Starved Rock State Park in northeast Illinois.

Native to my region, well liked by the birds. I have lots in my back woodlot. The berries can be used in jams and wine, but may cause n...Read Moreausea eaten raw.

There are three varieties of this North American subspecies occur.

The Coastal Red Elderberry (var. arborescens) has fruit...Read Mores that are bright red smooth and grows to 6 m tall, west of the Cascade (Coastal) Mountains from AK to CA.

The Black Elderberry (var. melanocarpa) has black or purplish-black fruit, slightly wrinkled, 1-6M, east of the Cascade (Coastal) Mountains to AB and south to NM, AZ, NV and N CA.

The Eastern Red Elderberry (var. leucocarpa) has red to purplish-black fruit, plants 0.5-3 m tall occuring East of the Cascade (Coastal) Mountains to PQ and NB and S to TN and GA.