[The Honeysuckle, Muskroot and Viburnum Families West of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Elderberries West of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington

The Genus Sambucus

Red Elderberry, Coast Red Elderberry: Sambucus racemosa var. arborescens (Synonyms: Sambucus callicarpa, Sambucus microbotrys, Sambucus pubens, Sambucus pubens var. arborescens, Sambucus racemosa ssp. pubens, Sambucus racemosa ssp. pubens var. arborescens, Sambucus racemosa var. laciniata, Sambucus racemosa var. leucocarpa, Sambucus racemosa var. microbotrys, Sambucus racemosa var. pubens, Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa) - Red Elderberry, Coast Red Elderberry: Sambucus racemosa var. arborescens (Synonyms: Sambucus callicarpa, Sambucus microbotrys, Sambucus pubens, Sambucus pubens var. arborescens, Sambucus racemosa ssp. pubens, Sambucus racemosa ssp. pubens var. arborescens, Sambucus racemosa var. laciniata, Sambucus racemosa var. leucocarpa, Sambucus racemosa var. microbotrys, Sambucus racemosa var. pubens, Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa)

Red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa var. arborescens) blooming at Clackamette Park, Oregon City, OR......April 10, 2018.

Blue Elder, Blue Elderberry, Southwestern Elderberry: Sambucus mexicana ssp. cerulea (Synonyms: Sambucus caerulea, Sambucus caerulea var. caerulea, Sambucus caerulea var. neomexicana, Sambucus cerulea, Sambucus cerulea var. cerulea, Sambucus cerulea var. neomexicana, Sambucus glauca, Sambucus mexicana, Sambucus mexicana ssp. caerulea, Sambucus mexicana var. caerulea, Sambucus neomexicana, Sambucus neomexicana var. vestita, Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea) - Tree with compound pinnate leaves. leaves opposite. Flowers small, white, in an inverse, saucer-shaped clump. Berries are bluish.

Hybrid Elderberry: Sambucus mexicana x racemosa (Synonym: Sambucus callicarpa x glauca) -

Black Elderberry: Sambucus nigra ssp. nigra -

Coast Red Elderberry, Pacific Red Elderberry, Red Elderberry: Sambucus racemosa var. arborescens (Synonyms: Sambucus callicarpa, Sambucus pubens, Sambucus pubens var. arborescens, Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa) - Tree with compound pinnate leaves. Leaves are opposite. Flowers small, white, in a cotton fist-sized, candy-like clump. Berries are bright red.

Black Elderberry, Rocky Mountain Elder: Sambucus racemosa var. melanocarpa (Synonym: Sambucus melanocarpa) - Similar to red elderberry but with dark purple to blackish berries.

Paul Slichter E-mail