European Black Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.)

Also known as European elderberry, European elder, black elder, elder.

Some authorities, including USDA PLANTS and BONAP, follow the treatment of Bolli (1994) who lumped American black elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) in with this species as ssp. canadensis and blue elderberry (Sambucus cerulea) as ssp. cerulea, often spelled caerulea. We follow the treatment used by POWO and FSUS, which separates them as proper species. When separated, this species is only native to Europe and there are only a few scattered introductions in North America, mostly not persisting in the wild.