Red Elderberry

Ecology & Conservation

Proximity Score

0

Native Status

✅ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON

Closest Direction

Local

CEC Eco-Regions

5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians

Rarity Notes

Ranked S5 (Secure) in both Ontario and Quebec, with a global rank of G5 and IUCN status of Least Concern. Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. Widely distributed across Canada from British Columbia to Newfoundland. In Quebec alone, 575 preserved specimens and 20 CNH herbarium records attest to its broad distribution.

S22 S5 ON+QC, G5, IUCN LC; S26 not SARA listed; S48 575 QC specimens; S54 20 CNH herbarium records

Rarity Ranks

QC S5 – Secure, ON S5 – Secure

Migration

Stable

Ecological Context

Red elderberry is a characteristic gap-phase shrub of mesic to moist forests, thriving in beech-maple, mixed hardwood, and coniferous forest openings across the Mixed Wood Shield. It colonizes disturbed sites via a persistent soil seed bank and rhizomatous spread, often appearing along forest edges, trails, clearings, streamsides, and rocky slopes. In the Outaouais, it occurs in rich deciduous and mixed woodlands, occasionally on thin soil over sandstone bedrock. It provides important wildlife habitat as fruit, bark, and cover for numerous bird and mammal species.

S7 beech-maple forests, borders, clearings; S10 sandy woodland; S61 forest openings, rocky slopes; S48 Gatineau specimens on sandstone

Permaculture & Companion Planting

Roles

Erosion Control, Fortress/Barrier, Insectary Plant, Pollinator Attractor, Water Purifier, Wildlife Habitat

S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Erosion Control: S61 keyword match: erosion (supporting signal only)] | Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Insectary Plant: S72 Hemenway (tables: 10-1, 5-3, 7-2, pp. 82, 116, 149)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)] | Water Purifier: S72 Hemenway (tables: 10-1, 5-3, 7-2, pp. 82, 116, 149)] | Wildlife Habitat: S72 Hemenway (tables: 10-1, 5-3, 7-2, pp. 82, 116, 149)]

Notes

Red elderberry serves as a multi-functional guild plant in woodland edge and forest opening designs. Its early bloom provides pollen for spring-flying bees, its dense branching offers nesting structure and cover for songbirds, and its prolific fruit production feeds thrushes, grosbeaks, and mammals. Tolerates juglone, making it compatible with walnut-based guilds. Best sited where its rhizomatous spread is an asset rather than a liability.

S72 insectary/wildlife habitat; S29 food forest use; S3 tolerates juglone; S10 wildlife associations

Medicinal Properties

ℹ

Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.

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Category

Analgesic, Antirheumatic, Carminative, Cathartic, Depurative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emetic, Gastrointestinal Aid, Gynecological Aid, Laxative, Purgative, Vulnerary

S28 31 Drug + 1 Medicine uses across categories; S29 PFAF medicinal categories

Notes

Extensively used in Indigenous medicine across western North America. The Bella Coola and Gitksan used root bark infusions as emetics and purgatives for stomach ailments. The Hesquiat rubbed roots on skin for aching muscles and chewed raw roots as a laxative. The Kwakiutl used root extract as an emetic and bark infusion as a postpartum steambath. PFAF notes the bark and leaves as diuretic and purgative, and blossoms for treating measles. Phytochemical analysis identifies betulin and betulinic acid in the bark. Moerman documents 32 medicinal/drug uses.

S28 32 Drug/Medicine uses; S29 PFAF medicinal properties; S31 betulin, betulinic acid in bark

Edibility & Foraging

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Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.

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✅ Edible   

Foraging Notes

Berries are edible only after cooking; raw consumption can cause nausea due to cyanogenic glycosides. Indigenous peoples across western North America used cooked berries extensively: the Gitxsan steamed or boiled them into jam, mixed with huckleberries for feast cakes; Bella Coola boiled them into thick sauce and dried for storage; Hesquiat cooked with sugar for jelly. Flowers are also edible raw or cooked, and the root has been used for a tea-like beverage. Moerman documents 16 food uses across multiple nations.

S28 16 food uses; S29 fruit, flowers, root tea; S10 jelly or wine after cooking; S4 Gitxsan preparation

Toxicity

⚠️ Moderate Toxicity

While classified as None for acute toxicity risk, caution is warranted. The leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides toxic to humans but not deterring deer. Raw berries can cause nausea; cooking destroys the low-level toxins. PFAF notes that NC State University identifies cyanogenic glycosides and alkaloids causing low toxicity if eaten. The stems, roots, and foliage are considered poisonous. OWSL lists it as toxic to mammals if ingested. Toxicity is very low and primarily a concern only with raw berry consumption.

S61 cyanogenic glycoside in leaves; S29 low toxicity; S4 stems/roots/foliage poisonous; S3 toxic to mammals

Seed Source

• OWSL