Red-Berried Elder (Sambucus racemosa) is in the elder family family (Viburnaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,539 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Red-Berried Elder: observations by month (U.S.)
About Red-Berried Elder
...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Red-Berried Elder by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 482 | April | Apr–May |
| California | 383 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Oregon | 323 | April | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 309 | May | May–May |
| Minnesota | 268 | May | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 222 | April | Apr–May |
| New York | 172 | May | May–May |
| Ohio | 171 | April | Apr–May |
| Wisconsin | 141 | May | May–May |
| Maine | 126 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 125 | May | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 109 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 99 | May | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 95 | May | Apr–May |
| Montana | 82 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 77 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 74 | May | Apr–May |
| Alaska | 44 | June | May–Jun |
| Utah | 40 | July | Jun–Jul |
| West Virginia | 38 | May | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 37 | May | Apr–May |
| Connecticut | 26 | May | Apr–May |
| Idaho | 24 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Wyoming | 13 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Maryland | 12 | May | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 10 | April | Apr–May |
| New Mexico | 10 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Illinois | 8 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Indiana | 6 | April | Apr–May |
| Nevada | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
| South Dakota | 5 | June | Jun–Jun |
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 Red-Berried Elder?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Red-Berried Elder most often seen?
The most observations come from Washington, California, Oregon.