Photo of Sambucus caerulea fruit by Stan Shebs

Photo by Stan Shebs

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Buy Sambucus caerulea

Also Known As

  • Sambucus caerulea var. neomexicana
  • Sambucus cerulea
  • Sambucus glauca var. neomexicana
  • Sambucus mexicana
  • Sambucus neomexicana
  • Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea
  • Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea
  • Blue Elderberry
  • Caerulea Blue Elderberry
  • Mexican Elderberry
  • New Mexico Elder
  • Tapiro

Plant type

shrub

size

  • H: 12'-20'
  • W: 6'-15'

planting zones

  • 4a-10b

1 gallon | $39

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Sambucus caerulea plant details

Sambucus caerulea is a broadleaf deciduous shrub with green foliage. In spring and summer cream and white flowers emerge followed by blue fruit. Attracts birds, butterflies and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture - regular water. Drought tolerant once established. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in rich and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Sambucus caerulea

Plant type: shrub
Plant family: adoxaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 6 FT - 15 FT - wide, 12 FT - 20 FT - tall
Flowers: cream and white blooms in spring and summer

GROWING CONDITIONS for Sambucus caerulea

USDA Zones: 4a - 10b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Soil needs: rich and well-drained

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Nursery contributed plant descriptions

This 6-12' western native shrub/tree is beautiful all season long, but spectacular when covered with its large, flat clusters of creamy-white flowers and again when those flowers become huge, dusty-blue fruit clusters, the fruit are delicious made into pies, jam, wine or cordials and also much loved by the birds if you do not harvest them for yourself. (note- do not consume elderberry fruits out of hand as they can cause severe stomach upset when eaten raw.) S-PSh/M
Useful as a small tree or large shrub, Elderberries thrive on dry sites and are quite heat and drought tolerant. In mid-summer large clusters of flowers appear at the end of the new growth and quickly form large bunches of berries with a light blue skin. Plants establish quickly and can actually be cut to the ground each winter and still produce large numbers of berries the following summer.
Western Blue Elderberry is native to a long strip of the West ranging all the way from Canada through Washington, Oregon, California, and into Mexico. It is very drought tolerant and often grows on dry mountaintops but can also be found in meadows and along streams. It is an important food source for wildlife in the fall and the berries are especially popular with birds. The fruit can be used to make jams or jellies and some use the berries to make tea. Other parts of the plant are poisonous so be sure to just pick the berries.

Protect these plants from deer as they will often go after new plants in our own garden. Established plants seem to get left alone but the soft, young tissue on juvenile plants is delicious to deer.


Shipping Information
Normally most plants we ship are well rooted but Elderberry are prone to root circling and root stunting so we prune roots heavily before shipping. Plants will have a well developed root trunk structure but few fibrous roots. Elderberry plants grow quickly and will develop heavy root structures by late spring and produce lots of top growth in their first year after being root pruned.

We have found that root pruned plants outperform non-pruned plants significantly, even though the roots on pruned plants can look kind of scary. As always, if you have any issues getting your plants to grow let us know and we'll be happy to help.
A deciduous shrub to small tree that grows to 15 feet tall. The attractive light green foliage and large clusters of fragrant creamy white flowers appearing abundantly in spring and early summer. Edible fruits attract birds towards the end of summer. Its berries are also, excellent in jelly, pie or for making elderberry wine. While this tree is deciduous it comes out into leaf very early in the spring and drops its leaves late in the fall, so that it is only bare for a short time. Pruning keeps the tree attractive. Native to California and is also found elsewhere in North America and beyond. Berries are food source for many species of birds. Both S. mexicana and S. racemosa are obligate hosts of the federally threatened valley elderberry longhorn beetle, which is endemic to the Central Valley of California The Ohlone people used the berries for food, and a decoction of the leaves as a purgative and to treat new colds. A decoction of dried flowers were taken by the Kashaya Pomo people to break a fever. The hollowed out stems were also fashioned into whistles. Found in canyons, limited to moist areas near creeks and drainages. Communitites located in Yellow Pine Forest, Red Fir Forest, Lodgepole Forest, Subalpine Forest, Southern Oak Woodland, Foothill Woodland, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland Between 0 and 10000 feet .
Large mounding shrub to small tree, growing 15-30' tall with an equal spread. Foliage is celery green and divided into toothed leaflets. Large clusters of small, creamy-yellow to white flowers occur in spring and summer, followed by clusters of blue-purple berries in the fall. Berries attract a wide range of birds and are used in jellies, pies, and for making wine. Hardy to below 0 °F. California.
Deciduous, shrub or small tree, blooms spring-summer, blue berries Zone 4-9. 3'-15', PNW, part shade-sun, moist, well drained
This large native upright shrub has large upright cymes of white flowers in summer followed by large clusters of sky blue berries attractive to birds and edible to humans who can cook. Zone 5.

Gardening facts about Sambucus caerulea plant

How to Grow Sambucus caerulea

  • Sun Exposure

    • sun - mostly shade
  • Water Needs

    • even moisture - drought tolerant
  • Soil Needs

    • adaptable
    • well-drained
    • rich

Features

  • Foliage Color

    • green
  • Flower Color

    • white
    • cream
  • Wildlife

    • birds
    • butterflies
    • hummingbirds
  • Fruit

    • blue
  • Flower Season

    • spring
    • summer
  • Foliage Season

    • deciduous

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