Black Elderberry Sambucus canadensis - Black Elderberry is an attractive fruit-bearing ornamental in the home landscape. Its graceful, pointed leaves and long purple-tinted stems give way to large sprays of white blossoms in late Spring, followed by bunches of purple-black berries soon after. Butterflies and bees are attracted to the flowers, and many species of small birds flock to the berries in late August.  Elderberry is adaptable to a variety of soils, including wet sites.