Science · Plants, Natives & Crops
Sambucus cerulea (Blue Elderberry)
Western blue elderberry with powdery-blue fruit; distinct from generic black or red elderberry labels.
Sambucus nigra subsp. caerulea (syn. Sambucus cerulea; also spelled S. caerulea) · Deciduous shrub or small tree
Profile
- Light
- Sun to partial shade
- Habit
- Large multistemmed shrub or small tree
- Wildlife
- Flowers support insects and berries feed birds
- Safety
- Use only correctly identified ripe fruit appropriately prepared; stems, leaves and unripe fruit are unsafe
Water & soil targets
- Moisture (VWC)
- Site-calibrated; depends on soil texture
- Salinity tolerance
- Not reliably characterized for this catalog label; avoid saline irrigation and diagnose with soil/water testing.
- Drought tolerance
- Moderate to good once deeply established; may shed leaves in drought.
Optimal root measurement depth
6–12 in
Typical active root zone for established native shrubs and vines. Typical guidance; confirm with a soil probe on site.
Deep occasional watering during prolonged dry weather; young plants require more reliable moisture. Avoid standing water and do not use leaf drop alone to set irrigation.
Problems to watch
- Stem borers
- Aphids
- Canker and branch dieback
Stress signs
- Wilting shoot tips
- Unseasonal canopy yellowing
- Dead canes or borer holes
Where you'll find it
- Native wildlife hedgerow
- Restoration habitat; check local elderberry-borer protections before pruning
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All Science profilesGeneral agronomic guidance and typical ranges; actual targets vary by site, soil, climate and season.