Fruit
Red-berried elder
Sambucus racemosa L. · red elder, red elderberry · Polish: Bez koralowy
Poisonous
How to identify it
- Shrub with pinnate leaves, similar in habit to elder (black elder).
- Pith inside the shoots spongy, cinnamon-brown (in elder it is white).
- Flowers early (April–May); flower clusters rounded, in the form of elongated panicles.
- Fruit: round, coral-red, juicy drupes in dense clusters.
Where it grows
A common plant in southern Poland, locally rare further north.
What not to confuse it with
Elderberries Edible with care
Elder has black berries in flat, drooping clusters and white pith in its shoots; the berries of red-berried elder are red.
Elderflower Edible with care
Elderflowers are white, in flat-topped clusters, in June–July; red-berried elder flowers earlier, in rounded panicles.
Frequently asked questions
What can Red-berried elder be confused with?
Elderberries: Elder has black berries in flat, drooping clusters and white pith in its shoots; the berries of red-berried elder are red. Elderflower: Elderflowers are white, in flat-topped clusters, in June–July; red-berried elder flowers earlier, in rounded panicles.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Bez koralowy
- Nadleśnictwo Strzebielino (Lasy Państwowe): Bez czarny i koralowy (13.10.2017)
Last checked: 9 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Write to us.