red elderberry - Adoxaceae Sambucus racemosa

Taxonomy

Clade	angiosperm
Family	Adoxaceae
Genus	Sambucus
Species	racemosa
Common Name	red elderberry
iTree Code	SARA2

Plant Form

Form	A large thick deciduous shrub or small tree growing 10-25 feet tall.
Height	0 feet
Spread	0 feet
Deciduous	Yes

Identification Description

Foliage	Pinnately compound, 5-7 leaflets per leaf, leaflets sharply serrate, ovate to oblong or elliptical, petioles may have reddish appearance, foliage has a distinct odor.	Leaf Type	Compound - Pinnate
Bark	Gray to gray brown, young bark is smooth with bumpy warty lenticels; older bark becomes rough with thin plate like scales.
Bud	Ovoid, plump, purplish red to green, several large scales.	Bud Arrangement	Opposite
Twig	Gray, pithy, pith is yellowish brown, brittle, lenticels are a similar color.
Flower	Monoecious perfect; small yellowish or creamy white flowers form on a cyme.
Fruit	Small red berries found in clusters, shiny, 3-5 seeds per berry.
Fall Color

Site Characteristics

USDA Zones		pH Levels		Salt Tolerance
Min	3b	Min	5.0	Soil	Moderate
Max	6a	Max	8.0	Spray	High

Shade Tolerance	Drought Tolerance	Allelopathy
Intermediate	Moderate	Unknown

Species Status

Nebraska Native
U.S. Native
Region of Origin	United States, Canada