ELDERBERRY
The elderberry shrub is most often grown for its ornamental value, with beautiful leaf color and shape, clusters of flowers in summer, and of course, dark purple berries. Native to Central and North America, Elderberry shrubs are often found growing on the side of the road, forest edges, and abandoned fields. They are an easily cultivated shrub for the landscape, growing in sun to part sun locations in well draining soil. The American Elder is most commonly used for its berries, but all varieties do produce edible berries with one important exception: the berries of the Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) are poisonous.
