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Botanical Garden

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Genus: Sambucus Species: canadensis Common Name: American Elderberry Family: Adoxaceae Order: Dipsacales Native: Eastern North America Habit: Shrub Height: 6 to 12 feet Width: 6 to 12 feet Flowering Season: Spring Flower Color: White Propagation: Seed, sucker and stem cutting Zone: 3-9 Note: This high maintenance, stoloniferous, deciduous shrub is suitable for naturalized areas, wet areas, shrub borders, and screening. American Elderberry flowers are fragrant and fruits turn to a dark purple after they mature in the Fall. These fruits (drupes) can be used in pies, wine, and jellies. Monitor plant for powdery mildew, leaf spot, borers, spider mites, aphids, and canker. Prefers sunny to partly shady, moist, well-drained, ordinary garden soil.