Plant Facts
Quick Answer
Elder pollen is shown in this guide as an orange and amber tone. It is listed as shrub, associated with spring to fall bloom timing, USDA zone 3 - 10, and pollen forage value.
Pollen Color Notes
The visual color shown for Elder is grouped broadly with orange and amber pollen tones. It is intended for comparison and identification support, not as a laboratory measurement.
Pollen color is highly variable. Lighting, pollen age, moisture, collection method, cultivar, and local growing conditions can all change how pollen appears. Use this as general visual guidance, not a scientific color standard or guaranteed field match.
Bloom, Zone, and Forage Context
Elder is listed for spring to fall. The record lists USDA zone 3 - 10; hardiness zones are planning context, not a precise flowering calendar. Approximate bloom months in the supplemental notes: May, June, July.
Its forage type is pollen, with pollen value marked as medium and nectar value marked as low. Flowers are primarily visited for pollen and may offer limited nectar; value differs among species and local stands.
Identification Notes
Elders are shrubs or small trees with opposite pinnate leaves and broad clusters of many tiny pale flowers. The broad label covers several Sambucus species.
Flower color note: White to cream. Flower color and pollen color may differ.
Related by Similar Color
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Sources
United States Department of Agriculture / reviewed 2026-07-12
scientific name, common name, distribution context, plant classification NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
North Carolina State University Extension / reviewed 2026-07-12
plant identification, flower description, landscape and growing context Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Foundation contributors / reviewed 2026-07-12
plant image, image credit link