Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa
Red elderberry, Red Elderberry
(c) Eric Lamb, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Eric Lamb · licence
Family: Viburnaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa (Red elderberry) is a native California shrub / tree in the Viburnaceae family, recognized by red fruit color, dome-shaped inflorescence, and larger cluster size than melanocarpa variety.
Red elderberry is a California native shrub found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, northern central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, and Transverse Ranges in moist woodland habitats at elevations to 3,300 meters. Flowering from May to July, this shrub produces creamy white flowers in broad, flat-topped clusters 6 to 12 centimeters in diameter. Growing with multiple stems 1 to 3 meters tall, it forms an open, spreading growth habit with arching branches. Its compound leaves have multiple leaflets that are green and smooth or slightly hairy, particularly along the leaf veins. The fruit develops as bright red berries, creating striking color contrast against the plant's green foliage.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by red fruit color, dome-shaped inflorescence, and larger cluster size than melanocarpa variety
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist places
Elevation: < 3300 m
California counties: Mariposa, Tulare, San Mateo, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Inyo, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Tehama, Alameda, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Madera, Marin, Mendocino, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Del Norte, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Trinity, Siskiyou, San Francisco, Modoc, Tuolumne, Sierra, Shasta, Monterey
Outside California: North America, Europe, Asia
Bloom period
Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Fraxinus: Flowers in showy flat-topped clusters vs. ash's inconspicuous wind-pollinated flowers appearing before leaves.; vs Aralia: Leaflets arranged simply along one stalk vs. Aralia's twice-compound leaves with leaflets branching off branches.; vs Ligustrum: Compound leaves with multiple leaflets vs. privet's simple, undivided leaves.; vs Heteromeles: Leaflets toothed all around vs. toyon's simple leaves with teeth only on outer half.; vs Rosa: Leaflets without stipules at base vs. rose's paired stipules flanking each leaf stem.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa native to California?
Yes. Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa bloom?
Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa grow?
Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa occurs in Mariposa, Tulare, San Mateo, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Inyo, San Bernardino and other counties, at elevations of < 3300 m.
What plant family does Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa belong to?
Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa is in the Viburnaceae family, genus Sambucus.
What habitat does Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa grow in?
Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa grows in Moist places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.