Tag: elderberry

 What a desolate place would be a world without a flower!  It would be a face without a smile, a feast without a welcome.  ~Clara L. Balfour

 

 

This year, I am continuing my series profiling native plants.  Each month I pick a native plant to recommend that is growing in my garden.  And as part of this profile, I link in with others who are espousing the wonders of their native plants and wildflowers through the Wildflower Wednesday meme hosted by Gail@Clay and Limestone.

At the end of this post, you can find the list of the native plant I profiled last year.  One of these days, I will put up a page with all the  native plants I have profiled over the last few years.  

For this first profile of 2015, I am showcasing Common Elderberry or Sambucus canadensis.  This berry producing bush, that I have grown to love both in flower and fruit, is part of the Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae).  It has many common names such as American Elderberry, Mexican Elderberry, Black Elder,  Blackberry Elder, Common Elder, Elder Flower, Sambucus and Sweet Elder.

Common Elderberry is found throughout a large area of North America; east of the Rocky Mountains, and south to Mexico and Central America.  It grows in moist areas like swamp edges, marshes, bogs, ponds, streams, fields, ditches and woods.  Pictured here, mine is growing with monarda near my back pergola.

I am joining forces once again with a local native plant nursery, Amanda’s Garden, to purchase native plants for my garden.  The owner, Ellen Folts, specializes in woodland, prairie and wetland native perennials.

 

 

 

Growing Conditions

Common Elderberry is a perennial shrub that forms a dense thicket.  It is hardy from zone 3 to 8. It can grow up to 10 feet tall and prefers full or partial sun and a moist, loamy soil. Once established, it is virtually problem-free.

Blooms are white, and fruit is bright red then turning purple-black as it ripens.  I have several pictures in the post of the different stages of berries forming and growing starting with the fruit beginning to form (pictured left).

Flowers occur from June to July, and you can pick berries August through October.

The fastest way to propagate Common Elderberry is by taking softwood cuttings from one-year old plants.

 

 

 

Benefits to Wildlife 

Birds and some mammals love to eat elderberries.  Deer will browse this bush, but I have not seen any around my elderberry. 

The flowers are a wonderful nectar source for native bees.  And the bush also provides nesting materials for native bees, and a nest site for birds including hummingbirds.  How cool would that be to have hummers nesting in the garden.  Perhaps I can plant more of these shrubs in my wet areas where the hummers would have more privacy.

 

 

 

Uses

The leaves, stems and unripe berries of Common Elderberry are toxic.  Berries that have been dried or cooked are not poisonous.

The most common use for the berries is in making jelly, preserves, pies, and wine.  The berries are low in calories and high in potassium, beta-carotene, calcium, phosphorous and vitamin C.

The fragrant flowers are edible.  And you can make a wonderful tea from the dried flowers.

I love to plant other natives like the echinacea pictured here with my elderberry shrub.

 

 

 

Folklore and Tales 

The name ‘Sambucus‘ is taken from the word for an ancient musical instrument.  It refers to the elder stems that were used to make instruments. 

Bark and roots were used for tanning leather and dyeing fabric.

During the mid 1800s, edible parts of the plant were brewed as a tea and used medicinally.

Common Elderberry was also used by many Native American tribes as a remedy for toothache, asthma, inflammation, headaches and fever.

Native Americans also used the ripe berries and the flowers for food.

In Europe, the European elder was said to have healing properties and possess magic.  Charms made from the wood kept away evil and disease.  Sleeping under the elder was supposed to create dreams.

In the Language of Flowers, the Elderberry blossoms represented Humility, Kindness, Zeal and Compassion. 

 

 

Do you grow elderberries or other berry producing bushes?  Do you have a favorite variety?