Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is a deciduous shrub or small tree which is tough, easy to grow, and grows very rapidly. In summer large flat clusters of cream or yellow flowers bloom then form small dark purple or black berries that droop from the branches in late autumn. This tree is native from Oregon to Baja all the way to western Texas. It is in the relatively newly designated Adoxaceae (Moschatel) family.
The berries are an important source of food for many fruit-eating birds in California.
You can plant a black elderberry from a 1 gallon container and have a 15 foot tree in your garden in 3 years. In the garden, this tree likes regular water but can also adapt to summer drought. You can prune it to promote branching and prevent a loose, rangy form.