Red Elderberry
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Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) is a deciduous shrub in the honeysuckle family that produces both flowers and colorful berries.
It grows wild in boreal forests and riparian areas throughout much of the United States.
Its value as a food plant for birds, squirrels and other small mammals makes it a popular choice in landscape settings.
Acording to the United States Department of Agriculture, "Red elderberry is found on a wide variety of soils but favors deeper, loamy sands and silts and nutrient rich sites with good drainage, ample moisture and a pH of 5.0 to 8.0."
They also advise its utility as a soil stabilizer, especially along stream banks.
Because of it's ability to grow to large heights, in a landscape setting, yearly pruning is advised during the dormant stage.
While the berries are considered edible when cooked, they, along with the leaves, are toxic to humans when consumed raw.
© 2003-2009 Patricia A. Michaels