Their leaves are opposite and compound with five to eleven leaflets, similar to green and white ash trees. Leaves also have serrated margins. The fruit is a smooth globular berry that measures three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter. The broad, flat clusters of berries, which ripen in early August to late September, are deep purple to black. Many birds and mammals feed on the fruit.
Elderberries are drought and cold tolerant.
They also tolerate almost any moisture condition and soil type. They grow at a pH of 5.5 to 7.5, but prefer a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. It's important to cultivate these shrubs carefully, because the root system is shallow and can easily be damaged. Elderberries have few pests, and natural predators often control outbreaks. Plant elderberries five to seven feet on center to accommodate air circulation.