The Genus Sambucus

Blue Elder, Blue Elderberry, Southwestern Elderberry: Sambucus mexicana (Synonyms: Sambucus caerulea, Sambucus caerulea var. neomexicana, Sambucus caerulea var. velutina, Sambucus cerulea, Sambucus cerulea var. cerulea, Sambucus cerulea var. neomexicana, Sambucus cerulea var. velutina, Sambucus glauca, Sambucus mexicana ssp. caerulea, Sambucus mexicana ssp. cerulea, Sambucus mexicana var. caerulea, Sambucus mexicana var. cerulea, Sambucus neomexicana, Sambucus neomexicana var. vestita, Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea, Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea) - 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) -

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) - 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.