Black elderberry
Sambucus nigra
Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is a shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 8–12 ft tall and 6–10 ft wide, fast-growing, needs medium water, and prefers full sun to partial shade. Black-purple cut-leaf foliage in named cultivars + pink/white flat flower heads. Edible cooked berries.
On the CSU listmedium water8–12 ft tall and 6–10 ft wideDeer-resistant
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At a glance
- Botanical name
- Sambucus nigra
- Variety / cultivar
- 'Black Lace', 'Black Beauty'
- Type
- Shrub
- Mature size
- 8–12 ft tall and 6–10 ft wide
- Planting spacing
- ~10 ft apart (7 ft for a hedge/screen)
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–8
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade.
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- low
- Firewise (defensible space)
- Zone 3 only (site it well away from structures)
- Bloom color
- pink, white
- Bloom time
- early summer
- Pollinator value
- high
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
Planting & establishment
- Fruit: edible.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Black elderberry good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Black elderberry is a well-suited shrub for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Black elderberry get?
- It matures to about 8–12 ft tall and 6–10 ft wide.
- How far apart do I plant Black elderberry?
- Space Black elderberry about 10 ft apart for a full, natural form, or about 7 ft apart for a faster hedge or screen.
- Is Black elderberry hardy on the Front Range?
- Black elderberry is hardy in USDA 3–8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Black elderberry need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does Black elderberry grow?
- Black elderberry is a fast-growing shrub. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- Is Black elderberry native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Black elderberry deer-resistant?
- Black elderberry is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Black elderberry a good firewise plant near the house?
- Black elderberry is suitable in defensible-space zone 3 only, site it well away from structures. This is general suitability guidance based on CSU Extension firewise plant lists, not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
