American Elderberry is widely known for its immune boosting and nutritional qualities, it is no wonder that this plant is beloved by wildlife too. It can form a rather large shrub and attracts the whole food chain. Pollinators flock to it with it’s citrusy scented beautiful early summer blooms that last for 3-4 weeks. The berries are beautiful and a wonderful treat for birds in late summer, and is also a host plant to many lepidopteran caterpillars. It has lots to offer in the garden or in a mixed hedge or screening. It performs best in moist soil and sun, but I have seen it grow in many conditions. Although edible, it is not recommended to consume raw elderberries for humans. Although it is enjoyed by deer, I’ve found that they just graze it.