Woody > Sambucus > Sambucus canadensis > Sambucus canadensis
Sambucus canadensis
American Elder
Origin: Nova Scotia and Manitoba to Florida and Texas. Introduced in 1761.
Mike's
Opinion
"
A common landscape shrub, the American Elder is often used as filler in the borders. If left unpruned it may reach a height of some 3 m. Its large cymes of white flowers in early summer are followed by clusters of dark black berries, suitable for pies, jams and wines etc. Several cultivars enhance its appeal to the horticulturist and designer alike, ‘Sutherland Gold’ a yellow foliaged cultivar and ‘Nigrescens’ a black leafed cultivar are very useful, especially if coppiced annually to reduce their height.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Adoxaceae (Caprifoliaceae) |
| Genus |
| Sambucus |
| Species |
| canadensis |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Shrub (deciduous) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| (3)4 - 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 3 |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 |
| Height |
| 3 m |
| Spread |
| 2.5 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| A fast growing shrub that flowers in June-July and does well in moist soils. It is excellent for naturalizing or roadside plantings. The flowers contain a volatile oil and are used to produce elderflower water for confectionery and cosmetics. |
| Landscape |
| Difficult to use in home landscape situations because of its unkempt habit. It does well in moist areas and partial shade. Its excellent for a naturalizing effect or roadside plantings. |
| Shape |
| Upright, rounded. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| Pests |
| Borers, cankers, leaf spots and powdery mildew. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Multiple or solitary, few scaled, .2 cm long and brown in colour. |
| Leaf Description |
| Leaves are opposite, usually 7 leaflets, 5-16 cm long, short stalked, oblong, acuminate, slightly puberulous on the veins beneath and dark green in colour. |
| Flower Description |
| Appealing, visible between June and July and are white-yellow in colour. Borne in 5-rayed cymes, slightly convex, usually quite profuse and cover the entire plant. |
| Fruit Description |
| Berry-like drupe with multiple pyrenes and is good for jellies, pies, juice, wine and attracting birds. |
| Colour Description |
| Leaves are yellow-green in autumn and dark green in summer. |
| Texture Description |
| Medium in foliage and coarse in the winter. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The Cuddy Gardens, Strathroy, Ontario, Canada. |
| Propagation |
| Seed, 60 days at 20°C then 90 -150 days at 5°C in moist sand. |
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