Plant Details

Sambucus nigra

European elder

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Common names

60 names · 43 languages
EnglishYour language
  • black elderberry[1]
  • Elder[1]
  • European black elderberry[1]
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • European elder[1]
  • Europese Vlier[1]
  • Parsley-leaved Elder[1]
Other languages (42)
Dutch
  • Gewone vlier[1]
  • vlierbes
French
  • Sureau noir[1]
Afrikaans
  • European elder[1]
  • Europese Vlier[1]
Armenian
  • Կտտկենի սև[1]
Asturian
Basque
Belarusian
  • Бузіна чорная[1]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 西洋接骨木[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 黑果接骨木[1]
Croatian
  • Crna bazga[1]
Czech
  • bez černý[1]
Danish
  • Almindelig hyld[1]
Estonian
  • must leeder[1]
Finnish
  • mustaselja[1]
Galician
  • Sabugueiro[1]
German
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • Holler[1]
  • Holunder[1]
  • Schwarzer Holunder[1]
Greek
  • Σαμπούκος[1]
Hebrew
  • סמבוק שחור[1]
Hungarian
  • fekete bodza[1]
Irish
Italian
  • sambuco[1]
  • Sambuco comune[1]
Japanese
  • セイヨウニワトコ[1]
Kabardian
  • Бэрэжьей[1]
Latvian
  • Melnais plūškoks[1]
Lithuanian
  • Juoduogis šeivamedis[1]
Manx English Dialect
Norwegian
Polish
  • Bez czarny[1]
Portuguese
  • sabugueiro[1]
Romanian
Russian
  • Бузина чёрная[1]
Serbian
  • Црна зова[1]
Slovak
  • baza čierna[1]
Slovenian
  • črni bezeg[1]
Spanish
  • Sauco[1]
  • saúco negro[1]
  • Tilo, saúco blanco, saúco, flor de tilo[1]
Swedish
Tepehuano
  • Joday yooxi’[1]
Tongva
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Бузина чорна[1]
Welsh
Sources & name notes (1)

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] Sambucus nigra — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • sauquer — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • bez černý — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Almindelig hyld — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Gewone vlier — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • European black elderberry — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • European elder — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • black elderberry — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • sureau noir — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Schwarzer Holunder — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Σαμπούκος — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • fekete bodza — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • trom — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • sambuco — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Sambuco comune — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Бэрэжьей — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • sabugueiro — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Бузина чёрная — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • saúco negro — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • kuut — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Tramman — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Fläder — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • svarthyll — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Xawuw — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Бузина чорна — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Bez czarny — results[1].names[25]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Juoduogis šeivamedis — results[1].names[26]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • mustaselja — results[1].names[27]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • must leeder — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Elder — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • baza čierna — results[1].names[30]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Sauco — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • セイヨウニワトコ — results[1].names[32]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • 西洋接骨木 — results[1].names[33]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Sabugueiro — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • 黑果接骨木 — results[1].names[35]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Կտտկենի սև — results[1].names[36]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Tilo, saúco blanco, saúco, flor de tilo — results[1].names[37]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • mürver — results[1].names[38]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • kara mürver — results[1].names[39]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Joday yooxi’ — results[1].names[40]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • saüc — results[1].names[41]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Intsusa — results[1].names[42]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Soc — results[1].names[43]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Бузіна чорная — results[1].names[44]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Europese Vlier — results[1].names[45]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • European elder — results[1].names[46]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Europese Vlier — results[1].names[47]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • črni bezeg — results[1].names[48]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Melnais plūškoks — results[1].names[49]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • סמבוק שחור — results[1].names[50]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Crna bazga — results[1].names[51]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Ysgawen — results[1].names[52]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Parsley-leaved Elder — results[1].names[53]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Црна зова — results[1].names[54]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Holunder — results[1].names[55]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Holder — results[1].names[56]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Holderbusch — results[1].names[57]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Holler — results[1].names[58]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Flieder — results[1].names[59]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.

General information

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

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [3]
Botanical family: Viburnaceae

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

Sources [3]
Also known as: European elder
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree, Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 3.05–6.1 m

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

Sources [1]
Spread: 2.44–6.1 m

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

Sources [1]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [1]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [1]
Growth habit: Multi-stemmed

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

Sources [1]

Growing conditions

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

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

Sources [1]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [1]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [1]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [1]

Uses

Functions:
Cosmetic use, Dye, Hedge, Insecticide, Pioneer species, Repellent, Wood, Bee forage, Carbon farming, Fragrant

Description

Sambucus nigra is a deciduous shrub or small tree. Its flowers and prepared berries have documented culinary uses. Raw or unripe berries, leaves and stems contain poisonous cyanogenic compounds and should not be treated as ready-to-eat food.

Sources [1] [2]

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. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Sambucus nigra (Black Elder, Elder, Elderberry, European Elderberry) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: DescriptionHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Whole Plant Traits; Edibility; Poison Symptoms and Toxic Principle, where applicable
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 20 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
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .

  2. US National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Elderberry: Usefulness and Safety
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Safety; raw or unripe berries and other parts

    Source checked on .

  3. 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 219556; name ID 2486519; Sambucus nigra L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.