Red-berry elder
Sambucus racemosa
Last reviewed: September 2026
Sambucus racemosa is a fast growing shrub that blooms April through June with creamy flower clusters followed by bright red berries. It thrives in moist woodland edges and cool mountain slopes across much of the northern and western United States.
Toxicity unknown
Red-berry elder (Sambucus racemosa) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
96"–180" H × 96"–144" W
Bloom
Apr, May, Jun
Native to
AZ, CA, CO, CT and 33 more states
Pollinators
native bees, syrphid flies, beetles
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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A fast-growing shrub with compound leaves, dome-shaped clusters of creamy flowers, and dense heads of bright red fruit in midsummer. It colonizes clearings and edges and regrows quickly after hard pruning.
Growing Red-berry elder
Grow Red-berry elder in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 96 to 180 inches tall and spread 96 to 144 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Early fruit fills a summer gap for birds, and the flat flower clusters feed short-tongued bees, flies and beetles.
Common questions
- What growing conditions does Sambucus racemosa prefer?
- This shrub does best in part sun with consistently moist, well drained soil. It is often found along stream banks, forest edges, and cool mountain slopes where soil stays damp through the growing season.
- When does Sambucus racemosa flower?
- Bloom time runs from April through June, when small creamy white to pale yellow flower clusters open before giving way to clusters of glossy red berries in summer.
- What insects visit Sambucus racemosa flowers?
- The flower clusters draw native bees, syrphid flies, and various beetles, which move between blooms while feeding on pollen and nectar.
- How big does Sambucus racemosa get and what shape does it take?
- It grows as a multi stemmed shrub with an upright, rounded form, often reaching several feet tall and wide within a few growing seasons.
- Does Sambucus racemosa need a lot of water?
- It grows best with medium to consistently moist soil and does not perform well in prolonged dry conditions, making it a good fit for streamside plantings or areas with reliable rainfall.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
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