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Blue Elderberry
Sambucus nigra subsp. caerulea
In the United States:
Native
· also called blue elderberry, blue elder
Honeybees forage heavily on blue elderberry flowers for abundant nectar and pollen, contributing to a notable honey flow in western regions during peak summer bloom from June to July. The creamy white flower clusters attract large numbers of bees for 2-4 weeks. This large shrub can reach 20-30 feet and may require pruning to manage suckering; it's browsed by deer but provides reliable bee forage in moist sites.
| Nectar | high |
|---|---|
| Pollen | high |
| Bloom (US) | May–July |
| Hardiness zones | 4-10 |
| Duration | ~3 weeks |
| Type | Perennial |
| Sun | full |