Question: Greetings! This shrub 3 feet high is in my dampish yard, wooded north hillside east of the Connecticut River in …
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Question
Greetings! This shrub 3 feet high is in my dampish yard, wooded north hillside east of the Connecticut River in the North Quabbin region. Purple marble-sized cluster flower, opposite, compound toothed leaves. In bloom now, has been for a few weeks. I cannot find it in Petersons Trees & Shrubs or any of my wildflower guides. Uploading 2 photos of flower. Many thanks for solving this mystery!
Answer
Dear Tracy, good morning. The shrub you have photographed is Sambucus racemosa (red elderberry). It flowers early in the spring, much ahead of our black elderberry, that flowers later in the growing season. The flowers will be white when fully expanded, and the fruits will be red.
