These Smoky Mountains photos show Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa), which is one of the wildflowers that is actually a shrub that grows to 10 feet tall. The bloom is distinguished from the Common form of Elderberries by the bright red fruit as well as a red tinge to the white blossom. The blossom is also more pyramidal in shape.
The photo above was taken along Clingmans Dome Road in May. The stunning red berries in the photo below were spotted in the woods off the Roaring Fork Motor Trail, making a very dramatic statement in the green woods.
During your trip to the Smokies, please consider a stop at the William Britten Gallery on the historic Arts and Crafts Trail along Glades Rd. in Gatlinburg. The full display of my Smoky Mountains photos may contain a special memory of the mountains for you to take home.
Also, if you are a wildflowers enthusiast, please join my Smoky Mountains Wildflowers Community on Facebook. We trade photos and tips on bloom locations.
Beautiful pictures. Love them. Fruit of elderberry is also edible (when cooked), nice to make jams and jellies. Fresh berries reported to be rank smelling and not tasting really good (and somewhat toxic). Berries evidently turn purple-black when ripe—red ones not being ripe yet. Once again, beautiful pictures.