Blue Elderberry (Sambucus cerulea), The Moschatel Family (Adoxaceae)

Habitat

It grows on dry to moist, fairly open, low-elevation sites from southern Vancouver Island and the adjacent mainland south to California. There are some healthy ones growing in and around the south meadow out at the arboretum.

Leaves

The leaves are opposite and pinnately compound. The leaflets can number 7, 9, or 11. The top part of the leaf is medium green and the underside is lighter. The edge of the leaflets are slightly serrated.

Flowers

Flat-topped clusters of creamy white flowers.

Fruit

Flat-topped clusters of blue fruits with a whitish bloom. The berries ripen later in the summer in August.
I am still waiting to see birds eating the fruits.

Bark

The new shoots of the blue elderberry start off green. They then progress to a deeper maroon-red and smooth. They later turn a light gray and become more woody and rough. The stems of this shrub are hollow.

References

Bressette, Dana Kelley. “Blue Elderberry, Sambucus Nigra Ssp. Cerulea.” Native Plants PNW, http://nativeplantspnw.com/blue-elderberry-sambucus-nigra-ssp-cerulea/. Accessed 2 Aug. 2022.

Mathews, Daniel. Cascade-Olympic Natural History. Raven Editions in conjunction with Portland Audubon Society, 1988.

Pojar, Jim, and Andy MacKinnon. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska (Revised). B.C. Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing, 1994.

Quick Reference:

Height: Up to 20-30’ tall.
Leaves: Leaflets usually 7, 9, or 11.
Fruit: Berries blue with waxy bloom.
Habitat: Dry to moist, fairly open, low-elevation sites.
Photo Location:
Mt. Pisgah Arboretum
Eugene, OR
Mt. Pisgah Arboretum Plant List