Canadian elder (Sambucus canadensis, Sp. Pl.: 269 (1753))

Family: Viburnaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 269 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Sambucus

Vegetable: False

Observations: N. America to Venezuela and Bolivia

Description

The Canadian elder, scientifically known as Sambucus canadensis, is a versatile and resilient plant that is integral to a wide range of ecosystems and holds cultural importance in various communities across the Americas. First described in ‘Species Plantarum’ in 1753 by the eminent botanist Carl Linnaeus, this species is a cherished member of the Viburnaceae family.

Growing naturally from North America down through Central America to Venezuela and Bolivia, the Canadian elder thrives in a myriad of environments, showcasing its adaptability and ecological value. It is typically found in moist areas such as forest edges, along stream banks, and in roadside ditches, where it often forms dense thickets. The plant can reach heights of up to 10 feet with arching, hollow stems and deciduous, compound leaves composed of 5 to 11 leaflets.

In spring and summer, the Canadian elder becomes particularly striking due to its broad, flat clusters of small, white, star-shaped flowers. These fragrant blooms are not only aesthetically pleasing but also magnetically attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, contributing significantly to local biodiversity. By late summer, these flowers give way to clusters of dark purple to black berries, which are a vital food source for wildlife such as birds and mammals.

In addition to its ecological benefits, Sambucus canadensis holds substantial ethnobotanical value. Indigenous peoples and early settlers have long utilized various parts of the plant for medicinal purposes, culinary applications, and even as a material for crafting tools and musical instruments. The berries, when properly processed, are transformed into syrups, wines, jellies, and pies, enriching diets with their vitamins and antioxidants.

However, it is essential to handle the plant with care, as some parts, particularly the leaves, stems, and unripe fruits, contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can be toxic if ingested untreated.

Overall, the Canadian elder is a remarkable species embodying both natural beauty and practical utility. Its widespread presence from North America to South America underscores its importance, both ecologically and culturally, in the regions it inhabits.

Common Names

Eng: american black elderberry, american elder, common elderberry, canada elderberry, white elder
Deu: kanadischer holunder
Spa: sauco de canada
Nld: amerikaanse vlier
Fra: sureau blanc, sirop blanc, sureau du canada
Cym: ysgaw america, ysgawen america, ysgawen borffor
En: Canadian elder, American black elderberry, AMERICAN ELDER, AMERICAN ELDERBERRY, Mexican elderberry, Blue elder, Common elderberry, Canada elderberry, White elder
Ar: خمان كندي
Zh: 加拿大接骨木莓
Cs: Bez kanadský
Nl: Amerikaanse vlier
Et: Kanada leeder
Fr: Sirop blanc, Sureau blanc, Sureau du Canada
De: Kanadischer Holunder
Is: Ameríkuyllir
Ne: कनिकेफूल
Fa: آقطی
Ru: Бузина канадская
Sk: Baza kanadská
Es: Sauco de Canada
Th: พวงไข่มุก
Cy: Ysgawen America, Ysgaw America, Ysgawen Borffor

Synonyms

• Sambucus bipinnata (Moench)
• Sambucus eberhardtii (Danguy)
• Sambucus planteriensis (Simon-Louis ex Dippel)
• Sambucus plantierensis (Koehne)
• Sambucus simpsonii (Rehder)
• Sambucus canadensis var. laciniata (A.Gray)
• Sambucus orbiculata var. puberula (Schwer.)
• Sambucus cerulea var. arizonica (Sarg.)
• Sambucus canadensis f. delicatissima (Schwer.)
• Sambucus canadensis f. chlorocarpa (Rehder)
• Sambucus orbiculata var. glabra (Schwer.)
• Sambucus canadensis f. aurea ((J.F.Cowell ex L.H.Bailey) Rehder)
• Sambucus orbiculata (Greene)
• Sambucus canadensis f. atroflavula (House)
• Sambucus intermedia var. insularis (Schwer.)
• Sambucus rehderiana (Schwer.)
• Sambucus canadensis var. aurea (J.F.Cowell ex L.H.Bailey)
• Sambucus canadensis var. glabra (Schwer.)
• Sambucus canadensis f. maxima ((Hesse) Schwer.)
• Sambucus repens (Raf.)
• Sambucus pubens var. maxima (Hesse)
• Sambucus canadensis var. maxima ((Hesse) C.K.Schneid.)
• Sambucus nigra var. canadensis ((L.) B.L.Turner)
• Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis ((L.) Bolli)
• Sambucus canadensis var. submollis (Rehder)
• Sambucus canadensis var. tarda (Schwer.)
• Sambucus canadensis f. repens (Schwer.)
• Sambucus canadensis subsp. laciniata ((A.Gray) A.E.Murray)
• Sambucus canadensis f. rosicalyx (Schwer.)
• Sambucus canadensis var. rubella (Schwer.)
• Sambucus canadensis f. rubra (E.J.Palmer & Steyerm.)
• Sambucus canadensis f. engelmannii (Rehder)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• Belize (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• California (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Delaware (native)
• District of Columbia (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Florida (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Kansas (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Montana (native)
• Nebraska (native)
• New Brunswick (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New York (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Dakota (native)
• Nova Scotia (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Panamá (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Peru (native)
• Prince Edward I. (native)
• Québec (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• South Dakota (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Texas (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Vermont (native)
• Virginia (native)
• West Virginia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Assam (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Burundi (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Laos (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Rwanda (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Fruit

Taken Jul 1, 2022 by Norman Gedigk (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 4, 2022 by Andreas Dubois (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 29, 2020 by Paddy Emiliano (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 8, 2020 by manu (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 26, 2021 by Judicael Jeranaud (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken May 30, 2022 by C Dawn (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 7, 2022 by Jeanne Botanique (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 7, 2022 by Jeanne Botanique (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 18, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 21, 2021 by Louise-Zoé JACQUES-SEBASTIEN (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken May 16, 2022 by 1DNRM (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 5, 2022 by Julian Castillo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 4, 2022 by stef dado (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 8, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 18, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken May 12, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 20, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 1, 2022 by Tim Skibik (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 20, 2022 by philsky Massi (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 18, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken May 17, 2022 by Marcel Schol (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 13, 2022 by Plantae Lucorum (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 23, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 20, 2022 by philsky Massi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 23, 2022 by Dailly Mathilde (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 17, 2022 by Maria Soler Capdevila (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/6369819)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:321978-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Sambucus canadensis L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Multiple Stem

Growth habit: Tree, Shrub

Growth rate: Rapid

Growth

Ph maximum: 8.9

Ph minimum: 5.0