American black elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is in the elder family family (Viburnaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 7,722 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph American black elderberry: observations by month (U.S.)
About American black elderberry
...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
American black elderberry by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 789 | May | May–Jun |
| Florida | 784 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Virginia | 548 | June | May–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 546 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Ohio | 537 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Texas | 497 | May | May–Jun |
| Alabama | 431 | June | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 368 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New York | 345 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Mississippi | 286 | June | May–Jun |
| Indiana | 285 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Maryland | 228 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Vermont | 212 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 206 | June | Jun–Jul |
| North Carolina | 186 | June | May–Jul |
| Georgia | 184 | June | May–Jun |
| New Jersey | 173 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Minnesota | 154 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 139 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Illinois | 109 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Maine | 97 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Kentucky | 90 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 85 | July | Jun–Jul |
| West Virginia | 72 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Connecticut | 70 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Tennessee | 47 | June | May–Jun |
| Arkansas | 39 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Delaware | 36 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Iowa | 36 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Missouri | 36 | June | Jun–Jun |
| South Carolina | 29 | May | May–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 25 | June | May–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 13 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Nebraska | 12 | June | Jun–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 9 | June | May–Jun |
| Kansas | 9 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Hawaii | 8 | May | May–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (elder family)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American black elderberry?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from May to July.
Where is American black elderberry most often seen?
The most observations come from Louisiana, Florida, Virginia.