American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
- Habit
- Shrub
- Found in India
- Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & more
- Flowering
- December-June
How to identify American Elderberry
Identify American Elderberry by combining habit, leaf characters, flower or fruit details, location, and its family pattern. Do not rely on one feature alone.
- Look for a shrub habit.
- Check the distinctive field mark: Flat clusters of small white flowers followed by dark berries (elderberry).
- Confirm leaf arrangement: Opposite.
- Confirm leaf type: Pinnately compound.
- Confirm flower colour: White.
- Confirm fruit type: Berry.
- In season, compare flowering and fruiting time: December-June.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Sambucus canadensis
- Genus
- Sambucus
- Family
- Caprifoliaceae
- Habit
- Shrub
- Native to
- North America
- Found in India
- Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Sikkim
- Flowering & fruiting
- December-June
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
- Leaf arrangement
- OppositerecordedTwo leaves arise from the stem at the same point, facing each other.“The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, pinnate with five to nine leaflets, the leaflets around 10 centimetres (4 inches) long and 5 cm broad.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf type
- Pinnately compoundrecordedLeaflets are arranged in rows along a central stalk, like a feather.“The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, pinnate with five to nine leaflets, the leaflets around 10 centimetres (4 inches) long and 5 cm broad.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Characters marked “recorded” are for American Elderberry itself; the rest are typical of the Caprifoliaceae family.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- Whiterecorded
- Fruit type
- BerryrecordedA fleshy fruit with seeds embedded directly in the pulp, no central stone.“The fruit (known as an elderberry) is a dark purple to black berry 3–5 mm diameter, produced in drooping clusters in the fall.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Typical of the family
- Fruit
- Drupe
Characters marked “recorded” are for American Elderberry itself; the rest are typical of the Caprifoliaceae family — flowering plants only.
Local Names
- Nepali
- कनिकेफूल
About American Elderberry
American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is a shrub in the Caprifoliaceae family. In India it has been recorded in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and 2 other states. Flowering and fruiting run from December to June.
Uses
It is a source of dye or tannin and used to deter insects. Parts of this plant are reported as poisonous — treat it as unsafe to eat and wash your hands after handling.
Caprifoliaceae
Honeysuckle family
American Elderberry belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
Explore the Caprifoliaceae familySnap it. Know it.
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Common plant problems
If you are starting from symptoms instead of a diagnosis, use the plant disease symptom checker to narrow the cause before treating.
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