Soils: Clay to sandy loam
Habitat: Versatile; tolerates all soil moisture regimes; common to wetlands and streambanks
Flower Color: White
Fruit: Purple-black in August
Bloom Time: May, Jun, Jul
Deciduous Shrub
Other Names: Common elder
Native to the U.S., naturalized in MI
Wildlife Value: Songbirds, gamebirds, small mammals.
Typical Mature Height: 5-15 feet
Light Requirement: Full sun to part shade
Range: Nova Scotia to Florida, west to southern Manitoba, eastern Dakotas, eastern Oklahoma and Texas
Uses: The berries make an excellent wildlife winter-survival food because they remain above the snow and are sweeter after freezing. Great for wines and jams.
Warning: Unripe fruit have low toxicity if eaten.