Red Elderberry - Sambucus racemosa

Sambucus racemosa, also known as Sambucus pubens or Red Elderberry, is a perennial shrub native to Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Although typically low-growing, it can reach 4 to 12 feet in height and can get equally wide. Height and width are affected by amount of light, moisture, soil richness, and adjacent plants. It prefers medium to wet soil, and is a common resident of moist woodlands and riparian areas. It thrives in full sun to full shade, although it prefers to pair full sun with more moisture and can tolerate dry conditions in our loam or sandy loam with some shade. Strong shade reduces flowering and fruit production. 
 
The flowers are large, fragrant, showy, white clusters followed by striking red berries. Reports on the flower scent differs, with some rudely calling Red Elderberry "malodorous" and some saying fragrant. I will definitely have to remember to sniff it next spring and report back. The large conical flowers typically bloom in May or June and are attractive to pollinators. Bees, flies, and beetles use the pollen, pollinating as they go.
 
Foliage and flowers may be browsed by deer, especially if other food is scarce. If deer pressure is expected, protect until the shrub is large enough to handle browse, or plant in an area that is awkward for deer, such as a slope, rocky area, or among trees with protruding branches, such as spruce. On the other hand, planting bushy shrubs such as Elderberry or Speckled Alder may provide a food source for deer and keep them off your other plants.
 
This shrub can appear as a small single stem, or can form a clump or thicket through suckering or layering. Red Elderberry spread is usually stopped by adjacent vegetation and is rarely dominating, preferring to load its seeds onto the forest floor and wait for disturbance in order to spread to new areas. The seeds are spread by birds, for whom Red Elderberries are a favorite food. Over 50 songbirds and several game birds, such as grouse, use Red Elderberry as a component of their diet. For some birds, this shrub is a major food source, especially to fuel migration or winter preparation. Squirrels, mice, bears, and other mammals also use the fruit. 
 
The foliage, seeds, and roots contain cyanogenic glycosides, however, reports differ on the edibility of the raw berries. Most sources describe the fruit as sour and not usually eaten raw by people, especially since underripe berries can cause digestive upset. Ripe berries can be cooked into wine, jelly, and pie, and were a traditional Native American source of food and medicine. The berries have some (all? more?) of the medicinal and antiviral compounds of the related Black Elderberry. Perhaps because of its less-appealing taste, Red Elderberry has not been studied as much as its diva cousin Black Elderberry. If nothing else, plant it for the birds. 
 
Red Elderberry makes an effective accent shrub featuring uniform opposite leaves, attractive flowers, and interesting fruits. Pruning and/or occasional cutting to the ground can help maintain shape and refresh growth. Plant more closely to create a shrub border, privacy screen, or garden backdrop. Naturalizes well along streams, ponds, and shores or in low spots or forested areas. This shrub is moderately flood-tolerant, and can usually grow back from the crown if the top is destroyed. It can also be used for erosion control and wildlife plantings, and appears to be tolerant of heavy metals at contaminated sites. Red Elderberry is a bird habitat essential.
 
Sources:
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
USDA Fire Effects Information System
Michigan Flora
Illinois Wildflowers
Minnesota Wildflowers
Edible Plant Database
Other sources were skimmed