Blooming now, the broad, flat clusters of elderberry (Sambuca spp) are an attractive nectar source for a wide array of bees, butterflies, beetles and other pollinators.. In addition to providing nectar, it’s the host plant for a variety of lepidoptera, most notably the beautiful Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia). Berries ripen in late summer and provide a food source for birds. The fruit can be used in jellies, pies, juice, and wine. When the growing season is over, elderberry keeps on giving, as its hollow, pithy stems make perfect winter habitat for stem-nesting bees.
