The leaves are mainly deciduous and are typically 6 to 10 inches long. The wood of the elder is soft and pithy but become hard with age and the bark is thin and either gray or dark brown.
The species is indigenous to Europe, Asia and North Africa and is naturalized in North America. It grows in shady, wet places, frequently in the undergrowth of forests.
Some common cultivated species of elderberry include Sambucus nigra, Sambucus Canadensis, Sambucus javanica, Sambucus melancarpa and Sambucus racemosa.
Elderberries are easy grows in nearly any type of soil although they grow best in moist sites.
They are ideal for pond edges, drainage ditches and other boggy areas. They can also be used in shrub borders and along woodlands edges.
Elderberry (Sambucus)
