Sambucus canadensis
(American black elderberry)

Preferred Common Name

• American black elderberry

Other Scientific Names

• Aralia sololensis Donn.Sm.
• Sambucus mexicana C.Presl ex DC.
• Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis (L.) Bolli
• Sambucus oreopola Donn.Sm.
• Sambucus simpsonii Rehder

International Common Names

• English: American elder; Arizona elderberry; dane-wort; dwarf elder; hairy blue elderberry; New Mexican elderberry; sweet elder; tree of music; velvet-leaf elder; wale-wort; wild elder
• Spanish: flor sauco; sauco blanco; sauco del Canada
• French: sirop blanc; sureau blanc; sureau d'Amérique; sureau du Canada

Local Common Names

• Germany: Kanadischer Holunder; Nordamerikanischer Holunder
• Netherlands: Amerikaanse vlier
• South Africa: kanadese vlier

EPPO code

• SAMCN (Sambucus canadensis)

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Dicotyledonae
•                     Order: Dipsacales
•                         Family: Caprifoliaceae
•                             Genus: Sambucus
•                                 Species: Sambucus canadensis

The genus Sambucus has been traditionally placed within the family Caprifoliaceae. However, both morphological and DNA studies have demonstrated that the genera Sambucus, Adoxa and Viburnum form a monophyletic group clearly separated from the remainder of the Caprifoliaceae (Donoghue et al., 1992; Eriksson and Donoghue, 1997; Donoghue et al., 2001). To accomplish the removal of these genera from Caprifoliaceae, it was suggested that these genera might either be placed in their own families (e.g. Adoxaceae, Sambucaceae, Viburnaceae), or treated as a single family, Adoxaceae (Applequist, 2015). In 2009, the APG (Angiosperm Phylogeny Group) III recommended placing all these genera into Adoxaceae (Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, 2009). However, since then the circumscription and correct name for the combined family has been very controversial. In 2013, the Nomenclature Committee for Vascular Plants recommended the use of Viburnaceae based on revisions of the ‘publication date’ of the names (Reveal, 2008; Applequist, 2013). In 2016, the General Committee for Botanical Nomenclature decided that the correct name for this combined family should be Viburnaceae (Wilson, 2016).

Sambucus canadensis was previously treated as a subspecies of the European elderberry S. nigra as S. nigra subsp. canadensis. However, it is now considered a separate species native to North America (USDA-ARS, 2020).

The following description is from Spjut (2015) and Flora of Missouri (2020):

Rhizomatous or stoloniferous subshrubs or shrubs, or multi-stemmed small trees, 1-10 m tall, usually with stout, spreading rootstocks and suckering from the roots. Bark yellowish brown, tight, lacking ridges but appearing roughened or warty. Twigs 3-5 mm thick, the pith white. Leaves with the petiole 3-7 cm long, glabrous except in the ventral groove, where densely pubescent with minute, scurfy hairs. Leaflets (5-)7-9 per leaf, 5-12(-14) cm long, 2-6(-9) cm wide, lanceolate to narrowly oblong or elliptic, the upper surface glabrous, the undersurface usually minutely hairy along the veins, rarely also hairy on the tissue between the veins. Inflorescences more or less flat-topped, lacking an elongate main axis, instead with usually five primary branches (these repeatedly branched). Corollas 3-5 mm wide, white. Fruit is a drupe bright red prior to turning purple-black, 5 mm diameter.

In Belgium, S. canadensis is regarded as ‘escaped from cultivation’ and was first collected in the wild in 1972. Now, it grows in deciduous woodland in habitats similar to those of the native S. nigra (Alien plants of Belgium, 2020).

Soil drainage

• seasonally waterlogged

Soil reaction

• acid
• alkaline
• neutral

Soil texture

• heavy
• light
• medium

Sambucus canadensis spreads by seed and vegetatively by root suckering, underground rhizomes and rooting (layering) of procumbent stems where they touch the soil surface. Seeds are dispersed by animals including birds, bears [Ursidae], squirrels and other rodents (Stevens, 2001; Finn et al., 2008; Charlebois et al., 2010; Alien plants of Belgium, 2020).

Sambucus canadensis is currently listed as invasive in South Africa and Cuba where it is altering natural successional processes. Its shallow, aggressive root system indicates a potential to displace native vegetation (Macdonald et al., 2003; Charlebois et al., 2010; Oviedo Prieto and González-Oliva, 2015).

The leaves, stems, roots, seeds and unripe fruits of S. canadensis are toxic to humans due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides and alkaloids; seeds and fruits should therefore not be eaten raw (Stevens, 2001).

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Has a broad native range
• Abundant in its native range
• Highly adaptable to different environments
• Is a habitat generalist
• Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
• Pioneering in disturbed areas
• Highly mobile locally
• Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
• Fast growing
• Has high reproductive potential
• Gregarious
• Has propagules that can remain viable for more than one year
• Reproduces asexually
• Has high genetic variability

• Modification of successional patterns
• Monoculture formation
• Negatively impacts animal health
• Reduced native biodiversity
• Threat to/ loss of native species

• Competition - monopolizing resources
• Competition - smothering
• Poisoning
• Rapid growth
• Rooting

• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately

Sambucus canadensis is harvested from the wild and also commercially cultivated for its fruit. Fruits, flowers, leaves and the inner bark of S. canadensis are used in traditional medicine and dyes for basketry. Fruits are used to make jelly, syrup, candies, pies and wine. Leaves and bark are used as an insecticide. The wood is hard and used to make combs, spindles and pegs while the hollow stems are used to make flutes and blowguns. All parts of the plant are highly appreciated by Native American people and have multiple uses including medicinal and religious uses. This species is frequently planted as an ornamental in pond and lake margins and along roadsides (Moerman, 1998; Stevens, 2001; Spjut, 2015; PFAF, 2020).