Pollinator plant

European elder

Sambucus nigra

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

63 names · 43 languages
EnglishYour language
+6 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (42)
Dutch
French
Afrikaans
  • European elder[2]
  • Europese Vlier[2]
Armenian
  • Կտտկենի սև[2]
Asturian
Basque
Belarusian
  • Бузіна чорная[2]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 西洋接骨木[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 黑果接骨木[2]
Croatian
  • Crna bazga[2]
Czech
  • bez černý[2]
Danish
  • Almindelig hyld[2]
Estonian
  • must leeder[2]
Finnish
  • mustaselja[2]
Galician
  • Sabugueiro[2]
German
+3 more namesShow fewer names
Greek
  • Σαμπούκος[2]
Hebrew
  • סמבוק שחור[2]
Hungarian
  • fekete bodza[2]
Irish
Italian
Japanese
  • セイヨウニワトコ[2]
Kabardian
  • Бэрэжьей[2]
Latvian
  • Melnais plūškoks[2]
Lithuanian
  • Juoduogis šeivamedis[2]
Manx English Dialect
Norwegian
Polish
  • Bez czarny[2]
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
  • Бузина чёрная[2]
Serbian
  • Црна зова[2]
Slovak
  • baza čierna[2]
Slovenian
  • črni bezeg[2]
Spanish
Swedish
Tepehuano
  • Joday yooxi’[2]
Tongva
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Бузина чорна[2]
Welsh
Sources & name notes (3)

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

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

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. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • European elder — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Gewone vlier — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • sureau noir — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Flieder — results[1].names[59]; 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.
  • Holunder — results[1].names[55]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Schwarzer Holunder — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • black elderberry — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Elder — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • European black elderberry — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Europese Vlier — results[1].names[47]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Parsley-leaved Elder — results[1].names[53]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Sauco — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • saúco negro — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Tilo, saúco blanco, saúco, flor de tilo — results[1].names[37]; 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.
  • sabugueiro — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
[2] Sambucus nigra — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • European elder — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Gewone vlier — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • sureau noir — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Flieder — results[1].names[59]; 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.
  • Holunder — results[1].names[55]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Schwarzer Holunder — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • black elderberry — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Elder — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • European black elderberry — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Europese Vlier — results[1].names[47]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Parsley-leaved Elder — results[1].names[53]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Sauco — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • saúco negro — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Tilo, saúco blanco, saúco, flor de tilo — results[1].names[37]; 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.
  • sabugueiro — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Бэрэжьей — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
  • Бузина чёрная — results[1].names[17]; 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.
  • baza čierna — results[1].names[30]; 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Црна зова — results[1].names[54]; taxon id 765394; Sambucus nigra.
[3] Sambucus nigra — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Black Elder — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Sambucus nigra.
  • Elder — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Sambucus nigra.
  • Elderberry — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Sambucus nigra.
  • European Elderberry — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Sambucus nigra.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Viburnaceae

Genus-level classification for Sambucus; this does not confirm the complete catalogue name.

Sources [1]
Taxonomy
NC State Extension publishes a profile under Sambucus nigra.

Profile-name match; no accepted-name status is asserted.

Sources [2]
Mature height
3.05–6.1 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
2.44–6.1 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Multi-stemmed

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Europe

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Unknown
Pollen value Low
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Fruit tree, Shrub
Size
Small
Dimensions
6.00 m high × 6.00 m wide
Growth rate
Fast
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
5-7
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Flowers, Fruit
Functions
Cosmetic, Dye, Hedge, Insecticide, Pioneer plant, Repellent, Timber, Pollinator plant, Carbon farming, Fragrant
Edibility
4 out of 5
Medicinal value
2 out of 5

Fruits - can be used both raw and cooked. The raw fruits have a not very appealing taste, but when cooked, they can make delicious jam, jelly, pies, and more. They can be used both fresh and dried, with dried fruits being less bitter. These fruits are often used for preserving flavor and color in jams, pies, sauces, chutneys, and even for making wine. With a diameter of about 8 mm, they are borne in large clusters. However, be mindful of toxicity, as explained earlier. Flowers - can be consumed both raw and cooked, and can also be dried for later use. The flowers have a bright and somewhat juicy texture, with an aromatic scent and flavor. They are delightful as a refreshing snack on a warm summer day, but watch out for insects. Flowers are used to add a musky flavor to stewed fruit, jellies (especially gooseberry jam), and often for making sparkling wine. Dried flowers can be brewed into a sweet coffee. Leaves are used to give oils and fats a green color.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Sambucus — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2692710; ID 7C39; rank genus; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Sambucus nigra — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: TaxonomyMature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Main botanical heading (h1)
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .