Sambucus nigra subsp. caerulea (syn. Sambucus mexicana), Blue Elderberry columnar The bell-like early spring flowers

The bell-like early spring flowers are held in showy pink calyces with petals of the palest pink blush that darken toward the center

The tannish indumentum under the leaves makes some folks sneeze but it is visually very gratifying so what's a sneeze or two

glossy black fruit following

Deadhead to prolong bloom time and cut back in the autumn

then you'll never miss their bloom

Sambucus nigra subsp. caerulea (syn. Sambucus mexicana), Blue Elderberry columnar The bell-like early spring flowersThe Pacific Northwest blue elderberry that , as a child, I was so fascinated with a myriad of fanciful projects found use for their hollow stems. It is a tall upright, deciduous shrub, with foamy creamy white summer flowers and blue fruit covered with a gray bloom in late summer. It can make a nice elderflower cordial or berries can be used as well. Birds will thank you for the fruit if you don't have time to process them. Deciduous shrub: 20 30 ft T