Conditionally edibleMedicinal notesNative
Common Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis · Viburnaceae
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Safety first
Raw berries, leaves, stems, and unripe fruit can cause nausea. Cook ripe berries only.
Educational field guide only. Never eat a wild plant without 100% confident identification. Not medical or legal advice.
About
Shrub of wet edges and thickets. Ripe blue-black berries used for syrups after proper preparation.
Harvest calendar
Months: Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
Seasons: Early Summer, Summer, Fall
Parts used: flowers, ripe berries
Habitat & skill
Habitats: Wetland / marsh, Stream & river corridor, Field edge & meadow
Difficulty: moderate
Identification
Opposite compound leaves; flat-topped white flower clusters; dark berry clusters; pithy stems.
Harvest notes
Flowers early summer; fully ripe berries late summer–fall.
Preparation
Cook berries. Flowers for fritters/tea when correctly IDed.
Stewardship
Take partial clusters; leave food for birds.
Traditional / medicinal notes
Educational context only — not medical advice. Traditional elder preparations are cultural/herbal — not medical treatments.