Elderberry

Elderberry, or elder, is a fast-growing shrub or small tree known for its big flat clusters of tiny white flowers and its dark purple berries. It belongs to the genus Sambucus, and people have used its flowers and fruit for food, drinks, and traditional remedies for thousands of years.

Scientific Classification & Quick Facts

Common name	Elderberry
Scientific name	Sambucus
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Tracheophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Dipsacales
Family	Viburnaceae
Type	Deciduous shrub or small tree
Habitat	Moist meadows, woodland edges, stream banks
Native range	Temperate and subtropical regions worldwide
Colours	White lacy flowers; purple-black berries
Flowering season	Late spring to early summer
Height	Up to 6 m
Edible parts	Flowers and berries

What Kind of Plant Is It?

Elders used to be grouped with honeysuckles, but DNA studies showed they are more closely related to viburnums. Today they are placed in the family Adoxaceae (sometimes called Viburnaceae). Botanists disagree on exactly how many species there are; estimates range from about 10 to 30 depending on how the plants are grouped. They include shrubs, small trees, and a few non-woody plants.

Elders grow in temperate and subtropical regions in many parts of the world, especially across the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere they are native to only a few places, such as parts of South America and Australia. Two of the best-known kinds are the European elder (Sambucus nigra) and the American elder (Sambucus canadensis), which some botanists treat as a subspecies of the European one.

History and Folklore

The English word “elder” comes from the Old English name for the tree. One old idea links it to a word for fire, because the hollow stems, with their soft pith pushed out, were once used as tubes to blow on fires.

Elder trees appear in many European legends. In Danish and German folklore, a spirit called the Elder Mother (Hyldemoer) was said to live in the tree, and people asked her permission before cutting its wood.

Archaeologists have found elderberry seeds at prehistoric settlements in Europe, including ancient lake villages in Switzerland and Italy, showing that people were gathering the berries thousands of years ago. Ancient Greek and Roman writers also described the plant, and it was so widely used in folk healing that it was nicknamed “the medicine chest of the country people.”

What Does It Look Like?

The European elder usually grows up to about 20 feet (6 m) tall and occasionally taller, while the American elder is often a smaller, bushy shrub around 5 to 12 feet (1.5 to 4 m) tall. The bark is gray-brown and corky, and becomes furrowed with age.

The leaves grow in pairs opposite each other on the stem. Each leaf is compound, made of 5 to 7 (sometimes 9) leaflets with toothed edges.

In late spring and early summer, the plant is covered in flat-topped clusters of tiny, creamy-white, sweet-smelling flowers. By late summer these turn into heavy, drooping clusters of small, round, purple-black berries.

Where Does It Grow?

The American elder is native to much of eastern and central North America, from southern Canada down through the United States, and it is common in states such as Illinois. It grows in moist places: along streams and ditches, in damp meadows and prairies, at the edges of woods, in thickets, and in open, disturbed ground.

Growing Elderberries

Soil

Elderberries can produce fruit for many years, so it is worth preparing the soil well. They do best in moist, well-drained loamy soil. If your soil is sandy or poor, mix in compost or well-rotted manure before planting to add nutrients and help hold moisture. A soil test can show what your garden needs.

Climate and Sun

Elders are tough plants that handle cold winters and warm summers. They grow in full sun to partial shade, but produce the most fruit in full sun. They can cope with wet or poor soil, but they do not like drought.

Planting

• Buy healthy plants and do not let the roots dry out before planting.
• Plant in early spring. Elders have shallow roots, so do not plant them too deep.
• Space plants about 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 m) apart. Farmers growing long rows leave much wider spaces between rows.
• Many elderberries produce more fruit when another variety is planted nearby for cross-pollination.
• Water well after planting to give the roots a good start.

Care

Because the roots are shallow, pull weeds by hand or use a layer of mulch instead of digging around the plants. Elderberries need about 1 inch (25 mm) of water a week, so water them during dry spells, especially in summer. Add fertilizer only if the plants look weak.

Do not prune much for the first two years. After that, prune in late winter or early spring, removing dead, weak, and older canes (stems more than about three years old). This keeps the plant healthy and bushy and encourages more berries.

Uses

Ripe elderberries are made into jams, jellies, pies, syrups, and wine. They taste tart and slightly earthy, and they give a deep purple color to anything you cook. The flowers are used to make elderflower cordial, teas, and fritters.

Important safety tip: raw elderberries, unripe berries, and the leaves, stems, bark, and roots contain substances that can cause nausea, vomiting, and other illness. Elderberries should always be cooked before eating, and only ripe berries should be used. Red-berried elders are more toxic and should not be eaten. Always have an adult check any wild plant before tasting it.

Elderberry has traditionally been used for colds and flu. The berries are rich in vitamin C and colorful plant pigments called anthocyanins, which act as antioxidants. A few small studies suggest elderberry may help with flu symptoms, but the evidence is still limited, and it is not a cure for any disease. Talk to a doctor before using elderberry products as medicine, especially for children or anyone taking other medicines.

Pests and Diseases

Birds are the biggest pest of elderberries, because they love the ripe fruit. Some growers use scare devices, but netting the bushes and picking berries as soon as they ripen work best.

One serious disease is tomato ringspot virus, which is spread by tiny soil worms called dagger nematodes and can also live in weeds such as dandelions. Infected plants grow poorly, produce less fruit, and may eventually die. Buying virus-free plants and controlling weeds helps prevent it.

Elderberry FAQs