Common elderberry is a multi-stemmed, native perennial shrub that exhibited three-year growth up to 88-inches tall and 137-inches wide. The thick, roughened, and furrowed bark is yellowish-brown to brown. Twigs are stout, light-brown to gray, covered with numerous small wart-like bumps (lenticels) and have white pith. Compound leaves are set oppositely in pairs in a feather-like arrangement. Leaflets are oval to lance-shaped and up to 6-inches long and 1-inch wide. Fragrant white flowers are arranged in flat-topped clusters measuring 4- to 10-inches across, and are arranged in branched clusters of five. Fruit ripens from late July to September.
Source
Thirty-one collections of common elderberry were assembled from five states. Dormant vegetative cuttings from each collection were planted in the greenhouse to establish plants for field testing. In 1998 plants from the greenhouse were placed in replicated field experiments in Michigan for a 3-year evaluation of survival, vigor, plant height and width, disease resistance, and flower abundance. Vintage Germplasm (accession 9084126) was tested in field plantings and Plant Materials Program inter-center evaluations for survival, height, spread, and fruit abundance. Vintage Germplasm was selected for release due to its excellent growth characteristics, fruit production, and ability to regrow after cutting.
Conservation Uses
Michigan NRCS technical specialists have determined that Vintage Germplasm is useful or potentially useful with these Conservation Practice Standards:
Early Successional Habitat Development/Management 
Field Border
Hedgerow Planting
Riparian Forest Buffer
Riparian Herbaceous Cover
Stream Habitat Improvement and Management
Streambank and Shoreline Protection
Tree/Shrub Establishment 
Upland Wildlife Habitat Management
Wetland Enhancement
Wetland Restoration
Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management 
Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment
Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation
Area of Adaptation: inhabits well-drained soils near streams and in adjacent bottomlands. It also grows well on gray forest soils and muck.
Photo Credit: USDA-NRCS; USDA-NRCS; USDA-NRCS;