Scientific Family
Caprifoliaceae
Synonyms
Sambucus mexicana, Sambucus neomexicana, Sambucus glacua and more see USDA Plant Database or SEINET
Other common names
blue elder
blueberry elder
Mexican elder
Plant type
Shrubs
Riparian
Yes
Plant Description
Origin
Native
Clump forming multi-stemmed shrubs or small trees with flat-topped clusters of small, yellowish-white flowers, leaves pinnately compound with 3 to 5 leaflets.
Flat-topped flower clusters, pinnately compound leaves with 3 to 5 leaflets that are asymmetrical at their base and sharply serrated on their margins distinguishes this from other Sambucus species. Dark blue berries with a whitish coating.
Height
To 30 feet
Width
To 20 feet
Habitat
Habitat description
Openings in moist coniferous forests and moist soils along streams, in canyons and loamy bottomlands.
Plant Community
Riparian
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
5100
High elevation
8500
Leaves
Leaf color
Dark green
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaf hairs
Bottom of leaves
Spines
No
Leaf Drop
Deciduous
The leaves are to 8 inches long with 5 to 9 lance-shaped leaflets. Leaflets are to 4 inches long. Lower surfaces of leaves are paler and somewhat hairy.
Flowers
Flower color
Yellowish-white
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
September
The flowers are to 1/4 inch wide in dense, flat-topped clusters to 8 inches wide. The clusters are borne at the ends of branches.
Flower clusters
Rounded
Fruit
Fruit color
Dark blue
Fruit type
Berry-like
The flowers are followed by loose clusters of dark blue, 1/4 inch diameter berries covered with a white coating. The berries contain 3 to 5 seeds.