
Master Gardeners: Elderberry
Elderberries MUST BE COOKED before consuming. By Ramona Slick Our local native Elder (Sambucus canadensis) is considered a subspecies of the European Black Elder (Sambucus nigra) now classified in the family Adoxaceae which includes several subspecies of Sambucus along with viburnums. Elders are multi-stemmed woody shrubs growing 8-12 ft. tall and wide. Stems have large piths that become hollow as they mature. Stems live about 5 years., but new shoots arise from















