North Rim, Grand Canyon
Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)
Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants
   
 
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Plant Image
Leaves
Oak Creek Cyn
Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)
Plant Image
Flowers
North Rim, Grand Canyon
Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)
Plant Image
Flowers
Oak Creek Cyn
Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)
Plant Image
Fruit
Sedona landscape
Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)
Plant Description

Origin: Introduced  Similar Species: Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea, Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis
General Description: Deciduous. Multi-stemmed, fast growing shrub or small tree originating from Europe. Trunk diameter up to 12 inches.
Identification notes: Shrub or small tree, often branching from the base. Bark gray or brown, furrowed. Leaves opposite, pinnately compound, 5 to 9 leaflets. Top surface smooth; smooth or hairy below, toothed edges. White flowers in flat topped clusters; dark blue berries.
Height: 20 feet     Width: 20 feet


Habitat

Habitat Description: Found along streams and in canyons on moist soils in open areas in coniferous forests. Prefers moist but well-drained soil in sunny sites. Can be associated with disturbed soils. Cannot survive in deep shade.
Plant Communities: Montane Conifer Forest, Riparian, Disturbed Areas
Elevation: 4500 - 9500 feet


Flowers

Color: Yellowish-white   Shape: Regular in round clusters    Tubular: N   Flowering Period: Jun - Aug
Description: Flowers on 5 to 8 inch flat-topped branched clusters in late spring and early summer. Flower corollas are ivory white, have 5 lobes and are perfect (contain male and female parts),


Leaves

Leaf Color: Dark green   Type: Compound   Shape: Round or oval   Margin: Toothed   Attachment: Opposite   Hairs: Bottom of leaves
Description: Leaves are 8 inches long. Leaflets are ovate, pointed and serrated with a length of 1 to 3-1/2 inches. Pinnately compound with 5 to 9 leaflets. Unpleasant odor when crushed.


Fruit

Color: Purple-black   Type: Berry-like   Description: Fruit is a glossy, dark purple to black berry 1/4 inch or slightly larger in diameter and has 3 to 5 seeds. Can be greenish-yellow before maturity. Berries are produced in drooping clusters in late autumn.


Bark/Branches

Bark Color: Brownish-gray   Bark Texture (Mature): Rough   Bark and Branch Description: Bark is light brownish-gray when young. With age, bark changes to a darker gray with lengthwise furrowing. Stiff annual shoots are light brownish-gray while the older branches are rough and darker brown.
Spines, thorns or prickles: N

  Arizona Cooperative Extension
Yavapai County
840 Rodeo Dr #C
Prescott, AZ 86305
(928) 445-6590
Version 8.0  
http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetail.php  
Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022
Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson  
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