Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis; American Elder) has a
rich history in herbal lore. It was believed to be magical, and
even rumored to be home to the Elder-Mother who protected
it from damage.
There are many other tales about European
elder that involve the calming of babies, the ability to see fairies
and to divine the future. However, the elderberry doesn't need
magical characteristics to prove its worth. It's flowers are pretty,
the berries are nutritious, it's fragrant and it benefits wildlife.
I have seen references to elderberry as a "high maintenance"
shrub. Granted, it does take some care to assure it doesn't
take over your property, but it's worth it. The clusters of tiny
white flowers have a sweet fragrance. The clusters can grow
to measure 8 or more inches across and often cover the entire
shrub! The blossoms are often used to make fritters, tea and
other beverages. The berries that form after flowering are very
nutritious and have been used for centuries to make wine, pies,
jams, and jellies.
It's important to choose the location of elderberry very carefully.
There are many varieties available from garden centers that will
vary in different ways. They all require a moist soil in full sun or
very light shade. Some varieties are hardy to Zone 3. The shrubs
aren't really picky about the soil itself as long as it's on the moist
side. Elderberry can get out of control if measures aren't taken
to prune it. It isn't the type of shrub for formal, neat areas. It can
be cut back in the spring to keep it pruned. Volunteer seedlings
should also be dug up and any sucker plants growing from the
elderberry removed. If you'd like, the suckers can be given away
or transplanted. Elderberry is suited well for naturalized spots,
wetland areas, or as a privacy screen. Deer, rabbits, squirrels,
chipmunks, turkeys, quails, mourning doves, mockingbirds and
many other birds love elderberries.
Elderberry flowers and ripe berries are edible, but all other parts
of the plant are toxic. Even the berries have small amounts of
toxic alkaloids. Cooking destroys these and changes the taste
as well for the better. Cooked elderberries can be made into
pies, jellies, wine and other desserts. As mentioned, flowers
are edible and can be used as well.
A few warnings: The elderberry has clusters of dark berries.
Be SURE of what you are harvesting before eating if you find
them in the wild. There are shrubs that look similar but all parts
are poisonous. One, the Scarlet Elder, has red berries, and
another type of shrub has black berries that are on thorny wood.
Elderberries do not have thorns. Any of these varieties should
NOT be handled by children for any reason. When pruning,
don't burn the cuttings.
Despite these warnings, elderberry is an heirloom herb that is
worthy of growing in your landscape. I was fortunate to find
elderberry shrubs in a scrub area of the property we bought
last summer and can't wait till summer when it blooms.
The following is a simple recipe for jelly:
Elderberry Jelly
Mother Earth News July/August 1973
Ingredients:
3 pounds elderberries
juice of 1 lemon
1 box fruit pectin
4 1/2 cups sugar
Heat the berries over a low fire until the juice starts to flow and
then simmer the fruit for 15 minutes. Strain the liquid through a
double layer of cheesecloth (easier if you cook the fruit in the
evening and let it drain overnight). Mix the elderberry and lemon
juices along with just enough water to make three cups of fluid.
Add the pectin, bring the mixture to a boil and stir in the sugar.
Bring the jelly to a full boil again for one minute, pour it into
sterilized glasses and cover the jars with paraffin.
ELDERBERRY TIDBITS FROM READERS
I have been making elderberry jelly for many years and I thought
I might share another way of making the jelly. I also grow grapes
for jelly. This helps me to get my juice, but you can buy it at the
store. I get a large pan of elderberries and cook them on low for
about a ten minute simmer. Then I put them in a cheesecloth bag
to set overnight. When I go to make jelly, I use 3 cups elderberry
juice and 1 cup grape juice. It's a fantastic combination with a
great taste. I found substituting the lemon juice with grape juice
is better. I get a lot of great comments on my jelly. ~Darlene
I harvest my elderberries in the wild and dry them for teas. I also
throw some in my oatmeal as it is cooking, yum! The flowers I
soak in olive oil for a wonderfully skin enriching and soothing salve.
I use a dehydrator. They take a while to dry and first go into a very
plump and juicy stage in the dehydrator. I made the mistake once
of trying to grab a few to eat and they squirted all over. I think that
the oven would be too hot and you'd lose nutrition. I make a nice
tea with dried elder and peppermint when I or someone I know is
just coming down with a cold, sore throat, virus and it seems to do
a lot of good. ~Suzanne of Cedar Mountain Herb School
ELDERBERRIES FROM SEED?
I would like to know how to get elderberries to grow? I get
them from someone else and they said that theirs just started
growing. I have the seeds from the ones I got off them, but I
don't know where or when I should plant them, or if they have
to be started indoors like tomato plants from seeds? ~Darlene
The common elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), is usually
grown from nursery stock if it doesn't grow wild near you. It
should be planted in the spring, about 8-10 foot apart. Keep
young plants well-watered. They can be propagated from root
cuttings, softwood or hardwood cuttings in the spring too. Set
the cuttings in soil, with only the very top buds on the branch
sticking out. Keep them moist until they root.
About the author:
Brenda Hyde is a wife and mom to three living in the Midwest
United States. She is also editor of OldFashionedLiving.com.
Perennial & Landscaping Resources
Breck's: Bulbs & Plants
Spring Hill Nursery
Michigan Bulb
Henry Field's
Gurney's Seed & Nursery
Jackson & Perkins
Nature Hills Nursery
