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Sambucus gaudichaudiana

white elderberry

Viburnaceae Southeastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 9–10

Overview

Sambucus gaudichaudiana is a soft-wooded shrub in the Viburnaceae family growing 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) tall, often spreading into colonies by underground suckers. The pinnate leaves have 5-9 lance-shaped, toothed leaflets 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long. Small white flowers are held in flat-topped clusters 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) across from spring into summer, followed by soft white to translucent berries about 0.2 inch (5 mm) wide. The berries are edible when fully ripe and cooked, while the stems, leaves, and unripe fruit contain cyanogenic compounds that cause nausea if eaten. Stems are soft and pithy, and the top growth often dies back in dry seasons or after frost, regrowing from the rootstock. Growth is rapid in moist soil, and the suckering habit allows it to form a thicket that can spread beyond its planting position.

Native Range

Native to southeastern Australia, occurring in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. Grows along forest margins, creek banks, and moist gullies, often in disturbed ground and clearings.

Suggested Uses

Planted in moist native gardens, along pond and creek edges, and in habitat plantings, spaced 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) apart. The flowers draw insects and the berries feed birds. The suckering habit makes it difficult to contain in small gardens.

How to Identify

Recognized by pinnate leaves of 5-9 toothed leaflets and flat-topped clusters of small white flowers. The soft, pithy stems and white to translucent berries separate it from the introduced Sambucus nigra, which has black to purple fruit. Plants form spreading colonies from suckering roots.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 5'

Width/Spread3' - 6'

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers from spring into summer, roughly September to January in its native range. The flat flower clusters last 2-3 weeks each, with bloom extending over several weeks. Berries ripen through summer and are taken quickly by birds.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay silt

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade on moist, fertile soil along watercourses and in gullies. Water during dry spells, as the soft growth wilts and dies back under drought stress. Spreads by root suckers and can form a thicket, sending up shoots away from the original plant. Stems, leaves, and unripe berries contain cyanogenic glycosides that cause nausea and stomach upset if eaten raw. Top growth often dies down in winter and regrows from the base in spring.

Pruning

Cut spent and frost-damaged stems back to the base in late winter, as new growth rises from the rootstock each spring. Remove root suckers along the margins to limit the spread of the colony. The soft stems cut easily and regrow quickly.

Pruning Schedule

winter