Stephen H. Brown, Horticulture Agent Kitty Tyler, Master Gardener Lee County Extension, Fort Myers, Florida (239) 533-7513
[email protected] http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/GardenHome.shtml
Sambucus nigra L. subsp. Canadensis
Mid-March
Mid-March
Late May
Family: Adoxaceae
Common Names: Elderberry, American Elder, Sweet Elder, Florida Elder, Gulf Elder, Southern Elder, Aurea, Sauco Synonyms (Discarded Names): Sambucus Canadensis, S. Canadensis var. laciniata, S. simpsonii Origin: Nova Scotia to Central America U.S.D.A. Zone: 3 to 12 (-40°F minimum) Plant Type: Shrub or small tree Growth Rate: Fast Leaf Persistence: Evergreen to semi-deciduous Flowering Months: Sporadically throughout the year with peak blooming in mid summer Flower Color: White Fruit: Fleshy, 0.25” purple-black berry like drupe Light Requirements: Full or nearly full sun Salt Tolerance: Moderate Drought Tolerance: Native to wet areas but easily adapts to normal garden conditions. Wind Tolerance: Low Soil Requirements: Wide Nutritional Requirements: Low Major Potential Pests: No serious pests Typical Dimensions: 10’x10’ Propagation: Seeds, cuttings, root suckers Human Hazards: All parts of the plant are toxic. The fruits are not toxic when cooked. Uses: Flowering shrub, small flowering tree, native garden, fruit tree for human and wildlife consumption. Distributions This subspecies of elderberry is native along the eastern seaboard of North America from Nova Scotia, Canada, to South Florida and west to Texas, Mexico and southwards to Panama. It is one of the few plants that can tolerate extreme cold (-40°F) and extreme heat (above 95°F). Elderberry is typically an aquatic plant often found in abundance in disturbed areas such as drainage ditches, small ponds, along the margins of swamps, and in wet fields. Yet it adapts well to upland areas and may be seen in South Florida pastures and old fields.
Growth Habit
A medium to large shrub usually less than 10 feet tall or a small tree approaching 30 feet in height. It suckers to form thickets primarily in wet moist soils in disturbed areas. Elderberry has soft, pithy, almost herbaceous, weak arching branches. The young stems have prominent ringed nodes that can produce new growth after the leaves have fallen. The bark of the young wood is gray with numerous prominent lenticels. The bark becomes dark brown, deeply furrowed and rough with age. The wood lacks growth rings. When injured, all parts of the plant emit a disagreeable odor.
Elderberry in water on lakes edge. Mid-April
Young rooted stems with prominent lenticels.
Old furrowed bark on a trunk of about 4 inches in diameter.
Leaves Leaves are essentially evergreen in warmer climates. They are without stipules although there are several large glands at each node. Odd-pinnate, they are oppositely arranged and quite variable in size and form. Sometimes the lower leaflets, and less commonly the apical leaflet, further divide into two or three segments. In the southeastern part of its range, especially in Florida and the Caribbean, leaflet subdivision may be so numerous that the leaf is sometimes partially to fully bipinnate. The leaves range from 5 to 18 inches in length. Petioles are typically from 1.75 inches to 4 inches long. Each leaf is commonly made up of 5, 7, or 9 leaflets and less frequently 3, 11 or 13 leaflets. Leaflets are arranged oppositely on the rachis except for the single terminal leaflet. The leaflets are elliptic, lanceolate or ovate and variable in size usually 2 to 8 inches long and 0.75 to 2.5 inches wide. Leaflet margins are serrated and the apex has a long tapering point. The upper surface is dark green and the lower surface paler green. When
Examples of leaf variations. Mid February
Serrated leaflets Odd pinnate leaf
Flowers Flowers are bisexual (perfect) with both male and female reproductive organs. They are produced in large, erect, broadly rounded to flat-topped, terminal inflorescence known as cymes. Cymes are numerous and showy from 2 to 10 inches across. Individual flowers measure 0.25 to 0.33 inches across with five white petals. The flowers are sweet-scented, presumably to attract insects, and shed early. In most parts of Florida, flowering begins in earnest in March and peaks in mid Summer. Sporadic flowering occurs throughout the year.
Flower buds on flat-topped cyme. Early March
Mid-March
Fruits The fruit is a fleshy berry-like drupe with three to five small stones. It becomes blue-black when mature measuring about 0.25 inch across. They are almost as numerous as the flowers from which they developed. The edible fruits are utilized by birds and mammals.
Late October
Early November
Uses and Maintenance Elderberry is only sold by a handful of nurseries in South Florida and is rarely found in gardens and landscapes. Its coarse foliage and thick suckering growth habit makes it a suitable material for screening. Elderberry can be trained into a single trunked specimen for a more formal look. All parts of the plant can cause severe discomfort if eaten but the fruit is safe when cooked. Consequently, the plant is grown for use as wine, pies, jams and jellies. It provides significant food and cover for wildlife. This versatile plant prefers moist, sunny locations. However, it is adaptable to dry conditions and is able to spring back after lengthy dry spells. It is suitable for alkaline or acidic soils, the former being typical of South Florida fill material used as a base for construction. Prune out dead or weakened stems at anytime during the year. It will tolerate heavy pruning, preferably in late winter or spring. Potential problems include powdery mildew, canker, dieback, rust and viral diseases.
Propagation Propagation is by seeds which germinate readily and by hardwood and greenwood cuttings. Suckers and root-cuttings propagate easily.
A thick informal screen to about 10 feet tall. Late January
Medium sized tree about 25 feet tall in a formal setting in full bloom. Gainesville, Florida. Late May
References Gann, E.D. et al. 2014. Elderberry, American Elder. Natives for your Neighborhood. The Institute for Regional Conservation. DelRay Beach, Florida Godfrey R. and J. Wooten. 1982. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Southeastern United States: Dicotyledons. Pg. 727-728. University of Georgia Press Haehle, Robert G., and J. Brookwell. 2004. Native Florida Plants, Low-Maintenance Landscaping and Gardening. Taylor Trade Publishing, New York Little, Elbert and F. Wadsworth.. 1964. Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Agriculture handbook No. 249. USDA, Washington D.C. Tobe, J. et al. 1998. Florida Wetland Plants: An Identification Manual. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Tallahassee, Florida Tomlinson, P.B. 1986. The Biology of Trees Native to Tropical Florida. Harvard University Printing Office. Allston, Massachusetts Fact Sheets South Florida Native Plant Fact Sheets Beautyberry Cocoplum Coontie Firebush Inkberry Seagrape Wax Myrtle Wild Coffee YouTubes Florida Lanscape YouTube Channel Brazilian Pepper Do Plants Need Fertilizers? How to Prune a Cabbage Palm Palmetto Weevil in Canary Island Date Palm Queen’s Wreath
All pictures taken by Stephen H. Brown
This fact sheet was reviewed by Roger Hammer, Naturalist; Peggy Cruz, Lee County Extension; Pat Rooney, Master Gardener; Sandy Lowe, Lee County Master Gardener Trainee; The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, martial status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. 3/2014.
