Blue elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is a deciduous shrub that forms thickets with many branches and can have multiple trunks. It grows up to 25 feet tall. The leaves are divided into 5 to 9 leaflets with toothed edges. The small yellowish-white flowers are displayed in dense clusters. Individual flowers are bisexual, containing both male and female parts. The fruits are dark blue berries, similarly displayed in clusters that develop from the flowers. The CPP four letter code for this species is SANI.
There are three subspecies recognized for this taxon: caerulea, canadensis, and nigra.
Download the USA-NPN datasheet for Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea here.
Download the CPP species profile for Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea here.
For additional information about this species, visit these pages:
Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea on Calflora
Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea on USDA PLANTS
