Shrub-Tree- Blue Elderberry
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Common Name: Blue Elderberry
Botanical Name: Sambucus mexicana
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Description: Deciduous shrub or tree native from California to British Colombia
Full sun or part shade: Full sun to light shade
Water: Drought tolerant but prefers some water in summer months
Soil: Any soil
Habit and form: Grows rapidly to 10 to 30 feet tall and 8 to 20 feet wide
Flower type: White to cream colored flowers in flat-topped clusters
Flower color & bloom season: Spring and summer blooms; blue to black berries follow
Uses for plant and/or flowers: Birds like the berries; fruit can be made into pies, jams, wine
Pruning time & method: Prune shrubs hard when dormant to keep dense; train trees to single or multiple trunks when young
Maintenance tips: Prune each year to maintain shape and form; can be cut to ground
Comments: Effective as screen or windbreak
