Elderberry

Another great plant that does not get enough attention from gardeners is Elderberry. The local species is currently known as either blue elderberry or black elderberry (Sambucus nigra or Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea). Like some other plants, this one has been through some name changes. It used to be called Sambucus mexicana, so some people still refer to it as Mexican elderberry. Calflora continues this confusion by listing S. nigra and calling in black elderberry, and also S. nigra caerulea and calling it blue elderberry. I think they are the same thing. Whatever you want to call it, it's an excellent wildlife plant.

It can be a small tree or shrub, depending on where it's planted and how much water it gets. In the wild it grows all over the state except for the true desert areas. The flowers are cream colored and appear from spring through summer and into fall. The berries are blue with a powdery white coating and appear from late summer through fall. The plant is deciduous, so it will drop nearly all its leaves in winter.

The berries are edible but everything I've read indicates that they should be cooked first or they'll cause stomach distress. On the other hand, birds can eat them with no apparent problems.

Elderberry can get to be a big tree and it's also somewhat messy. Think carefully about where you plant it. I cut mine back every year after the leaves have dropped off and the berries are done.