How to Identify Elderberry: A Comprehensive Guide for Foragers

Elderberries, with their distinctive clusters of dark purple berries, are a forager’s delight. They’re packed with antioxidants and can be used to make delicious jams, jellies, wines, and syrups. However, it’s crucial to accurately identify elderberry (Sambucus) before consumption, as some similar-looking plants can be poisonous. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the key characteristics of elderberry, helping you confidently distinguish it from its look-alikes.

Why Accurate Identification is Crucial

Misidentification can lead to unpleasant or even dangerous consequences. Specifically, it’s important to differentiate elderberry from plants like:

• Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum): This highly toxic plant can cause respiratory failure and death.
• Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata): Another extremely poisonous plant that affects the central nervous system.
• American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana): While some parts are edible after careful preparation, raw pokeweed is toxic.
• Dwarf Elder/Ground Elder (Sambucus ebulus): While technically an elder, *Sambucus ebulus* is considered less desirable and potentially more toxic than other *Sambucus* species when consumed raw. It differs in growth habit, often being a herbaceous perennial, and having upward pointing flower and fruit clusters rather than the drooping clusters of *Sambucus canadensis* or *Sambucus nigra*.

Therefore, paying close attention to the details outlined below is paramount before harvesting and consuming any plant you suspect to be elderberry.

Step-by-Step Guide to Identifying Elderberry

1. Observe the Plant’s Overall Growth Habit

Elderberry shrubs typically grow to a height of 5 to 12 feet, though some can reach up to 20 feet. They are multi-stemmed shrubs, meaning they have several trunks emerging from the ground rather than a single main trunk like a tree. Consider the following aspects:

• Size and Shape: Look for a bushy, sprawling shrub.
• Multiple Stems: Ensure the plant has multiple stems emerging from a central point. The stems are usually woody but can be somewhat weak, especially as they age and bear fruit.
• Location: Elderberries prefer moist, well-drained soil and are often found near streams, ponds, and in sunny or partially shaded areas. They thrive in disturbed areas, such as along roadsides and in fields.

What to watch out for: Poison hemlock grows as an herbaceous biennial or perennial, meaning it dies back to the ground each winter (though it may persist for multiple years). It has a single, thick stalk, often reaching impressive heights, and does *not* have a woody shrub-like structure.

2. Examine the Leaves

Elderberry leaves are compound, meaning they are made up of multiple leaflets arranged along a central stem (rachis). Here’s what to look for:

• Leaf Arrangement: Leaves are arranged oppositely along the branches. This means that leaves grow in pairs, directly across from each other. This is a key identifying feature.
• Number of Leaflets: Most elderberry species have 5 to 9 leaflets per leaf, although some may have as few as 3 or as many as 11. The number is typically odd, with a single terminal leaflet at the end.
• Leaflet Shape: Leaflets are typically lance-shaped or oval, with serrated (toothed) edges. The teeth are usually relatively fine.
• Leaflet Texture: Leaflets are generally smooth on the upper surface and may be slightly hairy underneath, especially along the veins.
• Leaf Stalk (Petiole): The stalk connecting the compound leaf to the branch (petiole) is relatively short.

What to watch out for:

• Poison Hemlock: Poison hemlock has fern-like, finely divided leaves that are alternate, not opposite. This is a critical difference.
• American Pokeweed: Pokeweed leaves are alternate, large, and oval-shaped with smooth edges, quite different from the serrated leaflets of elderberry.

3. Inspect the Stems and Branches

The stems and branches of elderberry can provide further clues to its identity:

• Stem Appearance: Young elderberry stems are typically green and smooth, gradually turning brown and woody as they mature. Older stems often have a corky bark with lenticels (small raised pores).
• Pith: A key characteristic of elderberry is its soft, spongy white pith (the central core of the stem). You can check this by cutting a stem lengthwise. The pith is easily pushed out.
• Branching Pattern: Branches grow oppositely, similar to the leaves.

What to watch out for:

• Poison Hemlock: Poison hemlock has smooth, hairless stems that are often marked with purple blotches. This is a distinguishing feature. Furthermore, poison hemlock stems are hollow, *not* filled with a spongy white pith.
• American Pokeweed: Pokeweed has thick, reddish-purple stems.

4. Examine the Flowers

Elderberry flowers are borne in large, flat-topped or slightly rounded clusters called cymes. They appear in late spring or early summer.

• Flower Color: The flowers are typically creamy white, though some varieties may have a slightly pinkish tinge.
• Flower Shape: Individual flowers are small, with five petals.
• Flower Arrangement: The flowers are densely packed in the cyme, creating a showy display. The cyme is typically 5-10 inches in diameter.
• Flower Scent: Elderberry flowers have a distinctive, slightly sweet fragrance.

What to watch out for:

• Poison Hemlock: Poison hemlock flowers are also white and arranged in umbrella-shaped clusters (umbels), but the umbels are generally smaller and less dense than elderberry cymes. Crucially, poison hemlock blooms earlier than elderberry.
• American Pokeweed: Pokeweed flowers are greenish-white and arranged in long, drooping racemes (elongated flower clusters).
• Dwarf Elder/Ground Elder (Sambucus ebulus): The flowers of *Sambucus ebulus* are white or pinkish and are borne in upward-facing clusters, unlike the flat-topped or slightly drooping clusters of other *Sambucus* species.

5. Identify the Berries

The berries are the most recognizable feature of elderberry. However, even with the berries, caution is necessary.

• Berry Color: Ripe elderberries are typically a deep purple to black color. Some varieties may have reddish-purple berries.
• Berry Shape: The berries are small and round, typically about 1/4 inch in diameter.
• Berry Arrangement: The berries grow in drooping clusters (cymes) that hang down from the branches. This is a *very* important characteristic that distinguishes edible elderberries from potentially toxic look-alikes.
• Berry Bloom: Ripe elderberries often have a whitish bloom on their surface, which is a natural wax coating that protects the berries.

Important Note: Raw elderberries contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These compounds are destroyed by cooking, so elderberries should always be cooked before consumption. The seeds also contain these compounds so try to remove them where possible, or at least chew them as little as possible.

What to watch out for:

• American Pokeweed: Pokeweed berries are also dark purple when ripe, but they are arranged in upright, raceme-like clusters, not drooping cymes. This is a key difference. Furthermore, the berries are poisonous raw.
• Dwarf Elder/Ground Elder (Sambucus ebulus): The berries of *Sambucus ebulus* are black and borne in upright clusters, differentiating them from the drooping clusters of desirable elderberry species.

6. Consider the Timing

Knowing when elderberries typically flower and fruit can help narrow down your identification. Here’s a general timeline:

• Flowering: Elderberries typically flower in late spring or early summer (May-June in many regions).
• Fruiting: Berries ripen in late summer or early fall (August-September in many regions).

What to watch out for: Poison hemlock typically blooms earlier in the season than elderberry.

7. Utilize Multiple Identification Methods

Don’t rely on just one characteristic to identify elderberry. Use a combination of the features described above to confirm your identification. Check the leaves, stems, flowers, and berries. Consider the plant’s overall growth habit and location.

8. Cross-Reference with Reliable Resources

Consult multiple reliable resources to confirm your identification. Some excellent resources include:

• Field Guides: Purchase a reputable field guide to edible and poisonous plants in your region.
• Botany Websites: Websites of botanical gardens, universities, and nature organizations often provide detailed information and images of plants.
• Expert Consultation: If you are unsure about your identification, consult with a knowledgeable botanist or forager.

9. The Crushing Test (Use with Extreme Caution and Understanding)

This is a last resort, and only to be used with extreme caution and *after* you have exhausted all other identification methods. A small amount of crushed leaf/stem/flower *should* have a distinct and slightly unpleasant odor. Some describe it as a “green” or slightly “rank” smell. However, this is NOT a foolproof method, and it should *never* be used as the primary means of identification. If you are unsure, DO NOT CONSUME THE PLANT.

What to watch out for: Poison Hemlock, when crushed, has a distinctly unpleasant, mouse-like or musty odor. This is a major red flag. Pokeweed has a more “green” but not particularly pungent odor.

Elderberry Varieties

Several varieties of elderberry exist, including:

• American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis): Native to North America, this species is known for its large, flat-topped flower clusters and dark purple berries.
• European Elderberry (Sambucus nigra): Native to Europe and parts of Asia, this species is widely cultivated for its flowers and berries. Some cultivars have purple or even gold-colored foliage.
• Blue Elderberry (Sambucus cerulea): Found in western North America, this species has bluish-purple berries with a distinctive bloom.

While there are subtle differences between these varieties, the key identification features described above generally apply to all of them.

Safety Precautions

• Never consume any plant you are not 100% certain about its identification.
• When in doubt, throw it out.
• Start with small amounts of cooked elderberries to test for any allergic reactions.
• Be aware of pesticide use in the area where you are foraging.
• Respect private property and obtain permission before foraging.

Conclusion

Identifying elderberry requires careful observation and attention to detail. By following the steps outlined in this guide and consulting reliable resources, you can confidently distinguish elderberry from its look-alikes and enjoy the many benefits of this valuable plant. Happy foraging!