Sambucus candensis

I have long admired our native elderberry for its massive 10-12″ heads of white flowers. A great plant for people and wildlife, it puts forth its pollinator-attracting blooms in June and follows up with its clusters of deep purple to black fruit a little later. The edible elderberry fruit is used to make delicious jams, jellies, pie filling and elderberry wine. It’s worth noting that uncooked fruit can have mild toxicity. An easy to grow plant, it tolerates a wide range of soils and watering regimes. Elderberry shrubs can sucker a bit but they are easily contained. Many gardeners cut them back hard in early spring before new growth emerges.