The red-berried elder complex is variously treated as a single species Sambucus racemosa found throughout the colder parts of the Northern Hemisphere with several regional varieties or subspecies. I believe this photo is a Sambucus pubens. It is blooming in the woods at Distant Hill Gardens in Walpole, New Hampshire.
This is a somewhat common plant is this part of New England. Small red berries, that are not edible, will ripen in July. We have another native plant, Common Elder or Elderberry - Sambucus canadensis, that flowers later in the summer. The Common Elderberry has small edible black berries that make excellent jelly and 'Elderberry' wine.
Jason Sharp;
Hillsborough County, Florida
Sambucus (elder or elderberry) is a genus of between 5 and 30 species of shrubs or small trees in the moschatel family, Adoxaceae. It was formerly placed in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, but was reclassified due to genetic evidence. Two of its species are herbaceous.
