Red Elderberry
Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa
Viburnum Family (Viburnaceae)
Native
Key Identifying Characteristics
Red elderberry is a fast growing shrub with large clusters of fragrant white flowers that grow into red berries.
Similar To
Blue Edlerberry (Sambucus nigra var. caerulea)
Height / Size
Up to 18 feet.
Leaves
Large, compound green leaves with five or seven leaflets, each of which can be up to 6 inches long. Edges are irregularly serrated. Deciduous.
Flower
Tiny white flowers with 5 petals and 5 long stamens in dense clusters. Inflorescence is rounded, unlike other elderberries that are flat topped.
Bloom Time: July to August
Fruit / Seed
Bright red berries in clusters. Fruit can be toxic or cause nausea if eaten raw, but reportedly safe if cooked.
Habitat
Moist areas and woodlands.
Location / Range
Visitor Center, Hazelnut and Montara Mountain Trails / Northern, Southern and Central California below 5900 feet.
Lifespan
Moderately long lived perennial.
Fascinating / Fun Facts
The red elderberry inflorescence is a “panicle of cymes”. Translated, that means each flower cluster is a complex of branches of branches of flowers. In the first branch (panicles), the basal flowers open before the terminal flowers. In the second branching (cymes), the upper most flowers open first. Wrap your head around that!
Read More
Nature Talks:
Sources:
Calscape
Jepson eFlora
PlantID.net for San Pedro Valley CP (NRDB.org)
VanderWerf, Barbara. 1994. Montara Mountain. Gum Tree Lane Books, El Granada, CA. pg. 93.