Distinguish the Three Main Elderberry Species in Your Yard with This Visual Guide

→ Identifying the various elderberry species found in the Pacific Northwest is crucial for herbalists and ecosystem stewards. This guide provides visual tools to help you differentiate between native species and non-natives, to aid in the protection of our local ecosystem.

Quick Links:

1. Elderberry Species Overview

2. Key Identification Features

• Flower ID
• Leaf ID
• Pith ID
• Berry ID

3. Ecological Significance of Elderberries in the PNW

4. Practical Tips and FAQ

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Elderberries fall into three basic categories: red, blue, and black.

It's fairly straightforward to distinguish them when they are fruiting based on the color of the berries. But for most of the year, elderberries won't have branches heavy with their colorful fruit. If you want to identify what kind of elderberry you're looking at, this guide will help you understand the key features to confidently identify your elderberry species.

I’m fortunate enough to have all three of these elderberry species in my yard, each planted by birds or other wildlife. The blue elderberries were the first to catch my eye, growing resiliently from old stumps at the edge of wooded areas. Red elderberries revealed themselves in the small forested part of my yard, tucked beneath the canopy. The black elderberry, thanks to some critter visitors, found a home in my greenhouse—twice!

As a plant enthusiast and home herbalist, I initially struggled to notice the subtle differences between these species. For me, it's easy to recognize an elderberry bush or tree, but to go a step further and id the specific type can be challenging.

This knowledge is vital for foragers and herbalists; black elderberries are considered the safest for medicinal use (when cooked correctly), while red elderberries remain toxic regardless of preparation. Proper identification also helps avoid toxic look-alikes, such as the purple berries of pokeweed or the white flowers of the deadly water hemlock.

Driven by curiosity and a bit of stubbornness, I indulged my inner botanist. I scoured numerous sources and conducted some backyard field study in order to compile a meticulous identification spreadsheet

Now, the once-confusing array of leaves and clustered blooms has been distilled into a few significant features for each elderberry type. In this visual guide, I share my elderberry ID chart with you, along with essential insights and images. By the end of this guide, you’ll become a skilled elderberry identifier, ready to recognize and differentiate these fascinating plants with ease.

The three main species of elderberry found in the PNW:

Common and Native Elder Species

Red Elder (Sambucus racemosa)

• Habitat: Usually in forests with moist soil and open canopy
• Height: Up to 20 ft but usually around 9-10 feet
• Blooms: Blooms are more spike-shaped, first to bloom in the PNW
• Fruit: Distinctive red
• Leaflets: Small, 5-7 leaflets usually, fuzzy

Blue Elder (Sambucus nigra subspecies cerulea)

• Habitat: Usually on forest edges or part-shade
• Height: up to 30 ft tall but usually 15-20 ft
• Blooms: Flat-topped
• Fruit: Distinctive blue with a white powdery substance
• Leaflets: Medium, 5-9 leaflets usually, smooth

American Black Elder, Common Elder (Sambucus nigra subspecies canadensis)

• Habitat: Usually in warm sunny spots
• Height: 6-13 ft tall
• Blooms: Flat-topped ‍
• Fruit: Distinctive deep purple‍
• Leaflets: Large, 7-11+ leaflets usually, fuzzy

(USDA FS, USDA, WVU, WIkipedia, Sparrowhawk Native Pants, Crows Path, Three Rivers Parks, USDA FS, Portland Nursery, Oregon State University, Strictly Medicinal)

Elderberry Anatomy 101

• Shrub:
  While you might refer this plant a "tree," it's usually shrub with multiple stems rising up from the root crown.
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• Drupes:
  The individual fruits of the elder "berry" are scientifically called drupes.
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• Anthocyanins:
  Anthocyanins, responsible for the blue and purple hues of the fruit, are powerful antioxidants that contribute to the health benefits of elderberries.
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• Cyanogenic:
  ‍All vareities of elderberry contain toxic cyanogenic glycosides which is why you need to know what parts of the plant are okay to eat and the proper preparation needed to remove the cyanide.
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• Glaucescence:
  ‍A white coating that is found on the blue elderberries - it can be wiped off
  
• Compound Leaves:
  Elder has leaflets arranged opposite each other along a leaf stem, with a single leaflet at the tip of the stem. These leaflets together are a compound leaf.
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• Serrated: 
  The leaflet of all elder species are jagged or toothed, with many points on them like a steak knife.
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• Lanceolate: 
  Each leaflet is lance shaped - long and narrow. The ends are pointed while the base is slightly rounded. Blue elders are more extremely lanceolate.
  
• Pith: 
  The inner part of the stem is "pithy" - filled with a soft spongy tissue
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• Cyme:
  The cluster of flowers on blue and black elders is called a cyme, a type of inflorescence that has flowers open at the outer edges of the cluster first, before the ones in the center.
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• Raceme: 
  ‍Red Elderberry is called Sambucus racemosa due to its raceme flower shape, which is more long, stalky, and conical in shape.

(USDA FS, Britannica, USDA Plants Database, WNPS, WSU ,Texas Wildbuds)

Key Features of Elderberry species in the PNW for Easy Identification:

• Red Elderberries are usually found in forested areas with open canopies. They have a tan-brown color pith on second year wood, and their flowers are more spike-shaped. They are the first to bloom here in the Pacific Northwest.
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• Blue Elderberries can grow quite tall and their flower clusters have a flat top. The leaflets of blue elderberries can be more narrow and less hairy when compared to the red species, and the pith on this plant is white. Often, blue elder is on the edge of forest as it enjoys a bit more sun.
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• Black Elderberries, while not native to the Pacific Northwest, it can be found here. Check with your state and county to see if it's listed as an invasive species before planting. Black elderberries look very similar to the blue subspecies, but they tend to have far more leaflets (sometimes more than 11), and slight fuzz along the veins.

Elderberry Species of the PNW Visual Identification Guide

Here is a more in-depth sortable + interactive chart to more clearly see the different characteristics of the elderberry species commonly found in the Pacific Northwest.

Scroll through to see the main distinctions, including characteristics of leaves, stems, blooms, height, habitat, and location. You'll also see my citations towards the right.

Labeled Photos of PNW Elderberry Flowers

One of the key features to remember with elderberry species that are native to the Pacific Northwest is the meaning of racemosa - the species name of the Red Elderberry. This word points to the "raceme" or spike-like structure of the flower cluster that occurs in Red Elderberry. It kind of resembles an ice cream cone or diamond shape.

Both Blue and Black Elderberry have more of an inverted triangle shape with a wide flat top that will curve open like an umbrella. The flat top of the blooms are a distinguishing feature.

Both of these characteristics in cluster shape carry through to the berries, which is a helpful feature when identifying unripe berries.

In general:

• Red Elderberry: Pointy cluster
• Blue or Black Elderberry: Flat or Umbrella shaped cluster

Leaf Identification: Visual Indicators

Never eat the leaves, stems, branches, etc. of elderberry

In looking at the leaves in an image from the US Forest Service, it was clear that Red Elderberry has a smaller leaflet and leaf size when compared to Blue Elderberry. I cut off a branch with a similar growth stage off of both species to see this difference for myself.  

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I then cut off a branch from my bird-gifted Black Elderberry. My specimen didn't have any hardened bark like my Blue and Red species, but that almost makes the size difference even more interesting. The Black branch was coming off of a main stem similarly to the other two.

It's important to note that the Black Elderberry is in a greenhouse. While it did die back quite a bit over the winter, it's in a spot with full sun and gets watered regularly. This can account for some of the size difference here.

Other indicators can be seen if you look very close to the leaflets: Blue elderberry usually has smooth leaflets - they almost feel silky or synthetic to me.

Red elderberry has leaves that are fuzzy - they almost feel like a hazelnut leaf in terms of their softness. Black elderberry leaves are fuzzy as well, but slightly less so.

In general:

• Red Elderberry: Smaller leaflets, fuzzy texture
• Blue Elderberry: Smooth leaflets, more narrow shape, medium size
• Black Elderberry: Fuzzy leaflets (slightly less so than red), medium-large size

Pith Identification

The pith is the center part of the elder tree branches. When present, its color can be an indicator of the species. Look at the pith on second-year growth.

In general:

• Red Elderberry: tan, orange, or brown pith
• Blue Elderberry: white pith
• Black Elderberry: white pith, or the pith may not be present at all for a hollow stem.

Berry Identification

Berries must be picked when fully ripe and also properly prepared in order to remove cyanide toxins.

I saved the easiest for last! When the berries are ripe, their color is a clear give away for which Elder species you're looking at.

Note that there is a white powdery coating on the blue elderberries that can be wiped off to reveal a deep navy berry that could be interpreted as black. However, that powdery coating is only present on the blue species.

Important traits of elderberries:

• Fruit must be picked when ripe and processed properly to remove the cyanide in the seeds

"Elderberries must not be consumed raw. Elderberry leaves, stems, and seeds contain a cyanogenic glycoside called sambunigrin. Never eat the leaves and try to remove as many as the stems of the berries as possible. Cooking the berries destroys the toxins in the seeds. Harvest ripe berry drupes first thing in the morning and process only the deep purple fully-ripe berries. (Never eat the poisonous red berries from the ornamental Sambucus racemosa cultivars!)" - PennState Extension

Ecological and Historical Significance

Beyond Cordials and Syrups: The Ecological and Cultural Significance of PNW’s Elderberries

Key ways elderberries help nature:

• Berries provide food for birds such as thrushes, grouse, robins, pigeons, sparrows, warblers, and sapsuckers throughout the summer and into fall (WNPS)
• Blooms attract pollinators, from bees to butterflies and hummingbirds
• The Echo Azure Butterfly larvae can use elder as a host plant (BoO)
• Dense habit provides shelter for birds, and bees can nest within its hollow branches (WNPS)

Historical Context:

• Indigenous communities of the Pacific Northwest have a long history of working with elder plants for food and medicine.
• Cahuilla tribe in California gathers, dries, and then cooks Blue Elderberries into sauces (USDA).
• Twigs and fruit are utilized in dye projects for fabrics and basketry (USDA).

Practical Tips

• Foraging Tips: Forage elderberries in late summer when the berries are fully ripe. Look for clusters of berries that are deep purple or blue.
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• Preparation Tips: Always cook elderberries to remove toxins. Remove berry stems from any preparation. Avoid consuming raw berries, and do not consume leaves, stems, and raw seeds.
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• Gardening Tips: Plant black elderberries in well-drained soil with partial to full sun. Red and blue elderberries do well in more moist soils. Blue elder berry would do well on the edge of a shaded area in your yard, and red elder would do well in a forest garden in an area with an open canopy. Water regularly, especially during dry periods.

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The Importance of Elderberry ID in Land Stewardship

In conclusion, the native elderberries of the Pacific Northwest are not just a feast for the birds and humans (when properly prepared, remember!), but also vital players in our ecosystem.

When you learn to identify these resilient plants with the tools provided in this guide, you can be an active participant in ecological conservation.

FAQ: Your Questions, Answered

Do elderberries need another tree for fruit producction?
According to Richo Cech, renown herbalist and owner of Strictly Medicinal Seeds, open-pollinated wild elderberries do not need to cross-pollinate. While theyare self-fertile, he advises that you will get more fruit set if you plant two or three.
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Can you eat the flowers of red elderberry?
Richo Cech advises against this. He says, "Red elderberry is high in cyanogenic glycosides," which are toxic. It should be noted that all parts of the elderberry plant, including blue and black elderberries, contain cyanogenic glycosides. The berries and flowers can be toxic if not properly prepared.
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Can different species of elder (i.e. red and blue) cross-pollinate?
Cech states that it's unlikely that Red Elderberry will cross with Blue or Black Elderberry. He explains, "differences in the timing of blossoming with the different species generally accounts for a lack of hybridization."
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Is Elder the same as Box Elder?
No. Elder is in the sambucus genus, and box elder is in the acer (maple) genus. Box elder is invasive in some counties of Michigan and Wisconsin, and is not native to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, or western Montana. It is found in some parts of California (USDA FS).

Should I trust a random stranger on the internet to tell me how to eat and process elderberries?
Nope. Consult a well-trained herbalist and naturalist in your area who can teach you the proper way to identify and prepare elderberries safely.

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Additional Resorces:

USDA Forest Service 1

‍USDA Forest Service 2

‍USDA

‍WVU

‍WIkipedia

‍Sparrowhawk Native Pants

‍Crows Path

‍Three Rivers Parks

‍Portland Nursery

‍Oregon State University,

‍Strictly Medicinal

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*Disclaimer: While I strive for accuracy, I'm human and so there may be errors. This blog is for educational purposes only and you assume any and all risk associated with plant ID, foraging, and consuming plants. I'm not a professional, so don't take any information as professional advice. You understand that any errors can cause serious illness or death. Before working with a plant in anyway, consult a local guide who understands both ID and proper preparation. Be smart, friend!