Scientific Name
Sambucus canadensis
Common Name
Elderberry, American elder

CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN.

Characteristics

Family
Caprifoliaceae
Plant Description
Deciduous shrubs with soft wood and large, white pith; leaves opposite, pinnately divided with 5-11 leaflets, toothed on the margin; flowers small, white, 3-5-parted, in large umbrella-shaped clusters; fruit a small, purple-black berry.
Origin
USA, NC
Distribution
Throughout.
Where Found
Forest or natural areas in moist, open woods; weedy in disturbed areas in fields, roadsides, ditches.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
Leaves, twigs (stems), roots, unripe fruits.
Symptoms
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, coma.
Edibility
EDIBLE PARTS: Cooked berries edible in pies, pancakes, and jellies; flowers and fruits used in wine making. SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES: When flowers are open, pick whole clusters and dip in pancake batter and fry, or dip in batter and fry as fritters. Elderberry juice can be used as a cold drink. SOURCE: Peterson, L. 1978. A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 330 pp.
Toxic Principle
Cyanogenic glycoside and alkaloid.
Severity
CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN.

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

Previous Species, Home, Next Species