Plant Details

Sambucus canadensis

American Elder

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Common names

46 names · 34 languages
EnglishYour language
  • American black elderberry[2]
  • American Elder[1][2]
  • black elderberry[2]
+4 more namesShow fewer names
  • Canadian Elder[2]
  • common elder[2]
  • common elderberry[2]
  • desert elderberry[2]
Other languages (33)
Dutch
  • Amerikaanse vlier[2]
  • Canadese vlier
French
  • Sureau blanc[2]
  • Sureau du Canada[2]
Afrikaans
  • Kanadese Vlier[2]
Cajun French
  • Pied de Sureau[2]
Cherokee
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 加拿大接骨木[2]
  • 美洲接骨木[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 美洲接骨木[2]
Cuicateco
Czech
  • bez kanadský[2]
Danish
  • canadisk hyld[2]
Finnish
  • kanadanselja[2]
Francais Du Canada
  • Sureau blanc[2]
German
Hungarian
  • kanadai bodza[2]
Italian
  • sambuco canadese[2]
Japanese
  • アメリカニワトコ[2]
Korean
  • 캐나다딱총나무[2]
Lithuanian
  • kanadinis šeivamedis[2]
Mayan languages
Mvskoke
Nahuatl
Ojibwe
  • Bibigwemin (bibigwewanashk)[2]
Onondaga
  • Otgoʔdaʔgónah[2]
Otomi
Purepecha
  • kondémbasi[2]
Russian
  • Бузина канадская[2]
Slovak
  • baza kanadská[2]
Spanish
Thai
  • พวงไข่มุก[2]
Tseltal
Ukrainian
  • Бузина канадська[2]
Zapoteco
Zoque
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Sambucus canadensis L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • American Elder (EN); Kanadischer Holunder (DE); Sauco de Canada (ES) — VernacularName.tsv, line 152625; taxon 6XHYD.
[2] Sambucus canadensis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • American black elderberry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • black elderberry — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • sambuco canadese — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • Sureau du Canada — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • common elderberry — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • common elder — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • American elder — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • azúmiatl — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • yah-cuio — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • shiksh — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • desert elderberry — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • bixhumi — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • coyapa — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • chijilté — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • kondémbasi — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • nttxirza — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • Otgoʔdaʔgónah — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • Amerikaanse Vlier — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • Бузина канадская — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • bez kanadský — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • Kanadischer Holunder — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • Sureau blanc — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • Bibigwemin (bibigwewanashk) — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • アメリカニワトコ — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • 加拿大接骨木 — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • 美洲接骨木 — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • 美洲接骨木 — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • Tilo — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • Xōmētl — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • Canadian Elder — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • Kanadese Vlier — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • 캐나다딱총나무 — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • kanadinis šeivamedis — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • kanadai bodza — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • canadisk hyld — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • พวงไข่มุก — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • ᎪᏒᎦ — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • kanadanselja — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • Pied de Sureau — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • baza kanadská — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • coskelepv — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • echoskelepv — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • Бузина канадська — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.
  • Sureau blanc — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 84300; Sambucus canadensis.

General information

Scientific name: Sambucus canadensis
Accepted name (Kew): Sambucus canadensis L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Viburnaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Sambucus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: American Elder
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree, Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.52–3.66 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 1.83–3.66 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Arching, Broad, Multi-stemmed, Open, Rounded, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Flowers, Fruit, Tea
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Dye, Fungicide, Insecticide, Repellent, Fragrant

Description

Fruits: can be eaten raw or cooked and have a bittersweet flavor. They are about 5 mm in size and grow in large clusters. The fruits are most delicious when dried. Raw fruits have a strong taste, while cooked fruits are often used in pies, jams, jellies, sauces, bread, and so on. They are rich in vitamin C. Flowers: can be eaten both raw and cooked. They are often covered in batter and fried into fritters. Unopened flowers can be picked and preserved. The result can be used as a sweetener in sweet dishes or soaked in water for a drink. Dried flowers can be used to make tea. Young shoots: can be eaten by cooking them and taste similar to asparagus. It is important to be cautious with this plant, as some parts of it can be poisonous.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 601461; name ID 2486599; Sambucus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 219830; name ID 2486578; Sambucus canadensis L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Sambucus canadensis

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2437217, ID 6XHYD: Sambucus canadensis L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Sambucus canadensis — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .