Description
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is a deciduous, sprawling, and suckering shrub. It can be found on stream banks and in moist woodlands. It works well as a rain garden plant or in a pollinator garden. With its showy, lemon scented flowers and sweet clusters of berries, it attracts both birds and butterflies. Elderberry has high wildlife value, as its flowers provide pollen to a wide variety of insects, and its berries feed birds, mammals, and even turtles on occasion. Raw berries may cause nausea in humans, so cooking them is recommended – you can make them into a delicious, immune-boosting syrup. Elderberry is tolerant of erosion, clay, and wet soils, but is not deer tolerant.
