Other species can be selected for colorful purple, black, red and orange stems. Moist soils, such as along streams or ponds. Redberried elder Native, compact shrub with showy white flowers and scarlet berries. Berries are edible but not tasty. Shepherdia canadensis Canada buffaloberry Low native with brownish, scaly twigs and brown-dotted scaly leaves.
Red berries are edible but bitter.
Flowers are white on stiffly upright stems. Should be cut to 6-inch stubble each spring. Native mountain ash Does best in moist, wooded areas. Flowers white in flat clusters. Syringa laciniata persica Persian lilac Hardy over 10,000 feet.