The small, numerous flowers are white to cream in color and are arranged in flat-topped compound clusters. By mid-August the solitary pistils form the fruits. The fruits are relished by birds and other wildlife.
All elderberries are members of the honeysuckle family.
The species are difficult to delimit and botanists differ on identification. They seldom grow in prairie areas. Children are sometimes sickened by using the stems as blow-guns. The ripe berries are edible and are used for wine, jelly, and pies. The toxic compounds in elderberry cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.