Flower profile

Red-berried elder

Sambucus racemosa

Native in the lower 48

Red-berried elder is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 7 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–July.

38states

7of our state lists

40,198U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin

Quick look

Sambucus racemosa is a species of elder known by the common names red-berried elder and red elderberry. It produces a red drupe.
From Wikipedia's article Sambucus racemosa, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Viburnaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 38 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. ^iNaturalist
In Minnesota, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 6,487 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #16 among the 110 flowers on our Washington list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 3,859 research-grade sightings of it in Minnesota, ranking #14 among the 110 flowers on our Minnesota list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,106 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #26 among the 110 flowers on our Vermont list. ^iNaturalist

Red-berried elder gift ideas

Handmade red-berried elder gifts from independent makers.

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Red-berried elder art print
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Red-berried elder embroidery pattern
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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (3,646 records)

Bloom time in each of our 7 states

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Washington	Native	April–July	6,487
Minnesota	Native	April–May	3,859
Vermont	Native	May	2,106
Wisconsin	Native	April–May	1,977
Michigan	Native	April–June	1,830
Maine	Native	May–June	1,060
Utah	Native	June–July	632

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Washington: No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Minnesota: Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Minnesota. ^{Minn. R. 6134.0300}
Vermont: Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S5, secure in Vermont. ^{Vermont E&T list}
Wisconsin: Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Wisconsin. ^{NR 27.03}
Michigan: Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Michigan. ^{R 299.1028}
Maine: Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. ^{Maine rare plant list}
Utah: No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: GA (S1), IL (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records red-berried elder in 38 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Washington counties with USDA records: Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Ferry, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman, Yakima.

Minnesota counties with USDA records: Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Carlton, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clearwater, Cook, Dakota, Douglas, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Itasca, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Martin, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Pope, Ramsey, Rice, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Stevens, Wabasha, Waseca, Washington, Winona, Wright.

Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor.

More Washington flowers

American black elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

Native

🌼 Blooms: May–July

Mapleleaf viburnum

Viburnum acerifolium

Native

🌼 Blooms: April–June

Blue elder

Sambucus cerulea

Native

🌼 Blooms: March–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SARA2.
iNaturalist, Sambucus racemosa: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Sambucus racemosa (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
Minnesota: Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300).
Minnesota: Minnesota Noxious Weed List (Minn. Stat. § 18.79; Minnesota Department of Agriculture, updated January 2026).
Vermont: Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022).
Vermont: Vermont Quarantine List, Regulated Introduced Plant Species Rule (eff. June 16, 2026).
Wisconsin: Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03).
Wisconsin: Wisconsin invasive species rule (Wis. Admin. Code NR 40.04 prohibited, NR 40.05 restricted).
Michigan: Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023).
Michigan: Michigan prohibited and restricted species (NREPA Part 413 and the 2026 Invasive Species Order), as listed by Michigan's Invasive Species Program.
Maine: Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories.
Maine: Maine Do Not Sell invasive plant list (01-001 C.M.R. ch. 273).
Utah: Utah noxious weed list (Utah Admin. Code R68-9-3).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Sambucus racemosa (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Bruce Cook via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.