Red Elderberry vs. Black Elderberry

RED elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) — berries more toxic; avoid.

The tell: Black elderberry (S. canadensis): flat-topped flower clusters, BLACK berries, woody shrub. Red elderberry: cone-shaped flower clusters, RED berries. And: never eat any elderberry raw — cook black elderberries; skip red ones entirely.

Rule: Red berries on an elder — leave them for the birds.