Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea (Blue elderberry)

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Sambucus nigra L. ssp. cerulea (Raf.) R. Bolli

Blue elderberry

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Dipsacales	Includes viburnum, honeysuckle, snowberry, beautybush, twinflower, many others
Family	Adoxaceae	Elders and viburnums
Genus	Sambucus	From Greek sambuke, for a musical instrument made from elderwood
Species	nigra	“Black”
ssp.	cerulea	“Sky-blue, cerulean”

About plant names...

Blue elderberry is still widely known as Sambucus glauca. It is a North American native, first reported by Lewis and Clark.

Identification: This woody shrub reaches heights of 20' (6.1 m), with main branches up to 1½" (3.8 cm) in diameter. Upright branches, composed of soft pithy wood, eventually bend into arches. Leaves are opposite, in clusters of 3-9, up to 8" (20 cm) long, and oval to lance-shaped. Found in a wide variety of woodland habitats and in thickets. Flowers are white or cream-colored, in flat-topped clusters up to 6" (15 cm) around. Berries are spherical, blue-black in color, with a white powdery surface that makes them look lighter. They need full sunlight.

8/29/2007 · Paradise Hill near Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon

Here are some related elderberries:

	*Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis*	You are here Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea	*Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa*
Common Name	elderberry	blue elderberry	red elderberry
Plant	Forms a rounded shrub up to 15' (4.6 m) in diameter, consisting of many stems emerging from a central point.	This woody shrub reaches heights of 20' (6.1 m), with main branches up to 1½" (3.8 cm) in diameter.	Rounded shrub up to 20' (6.1 m) in diameter, consisting of many stems emerging from a central point.
Flowers	Tight umbrella-shaped clusters, white or cream-colored, about 3-6" (7.6-15 cm) around.	White or cream-colored, in flat-topped clusters up to 6" (15 cm) around.	Flowers form tight umbrella-shaped clusters, white with a pink tinge, about 3-5" (7.6-12 cm) around.
Leaves	Opposite, in pinnate groups, each 1¾-6" (5-15 cm) long and about ¾-2" (2-6 cm) wide, with sharply serrated edges.	Opposite, in clusters of 3-9, up to 8" (20 cm) long, and oval to lance-shaped.	Opposite, in pinnate groups, each 1¾-6" (5-15 cm) long and about ¾-2" (2-6 cm) wide, with sharply serrated edges.
Stem	Upright stems, composed of soft pithy wood, eventually bend into arches.	Upright branches, composed of soft pithy wood, eventually bend into arches.	Upright branches, composed of soft pithy wood, eventually bend into arches.
Fruit	Berries are *shiny and black,* in dense, heavy clusters, each up to ¼" (6.3 mm) in diameter.	Berries are spherical, *blue-black in color, with a white powdery surface that makes them look lighter.*	Berries are *bright red*, in large, tight clusters.
Range/ Zones		USDA Zones: 4-10	USDA Zones: 3-9
Habitats		Mixed conifer forests, forest-steppe transitions, open talus slopes, at high elevations
Type	Wild	Wild	Wild

Edibility: Poisonous. Skull & Crossbones Leaves, green fruits and stems are poisonous. However, ripe fruits are edible when cooked, and sometimes made into jelly or wine, but the fruit does not agree with everyone.^[1]