Black elderberry

Profile

Family

Caprifoliaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

7 m

Spread

6 m

Growth

very fast

Lifespan

100 years

First yield

after 3 years

Hardiness

zone 5–9

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay

Soil moisture

semi-dry – very wet

pH

5 – 7

Synonyms

Holunderbaum

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Fruits are versatile and can be consumed fresh, dried, or cooked to enhance dishes with their color and taste. They are also utilized in producing wine, juice, and jam. An average yield of 11 tons of fruit per hectare provides around 600 calories per square meter. Flowers, on the other hand, can be eaten fresh or used in baking, as well as in preparing syrup, sparkling wine, or tea.

Medicinal: Berries aid in intestinal cleansing and enhancing the immune system, cells, and nerves, as well as alleviating flu symptoms and sore eyes. Flowers support the immune system, induce sweating and urination, and thin mucus, and can be brewed into tea. Leaves are effective in preparing ointments for bruises, swellings, and sore nipples. The inner bark serves as a natural laxative and emetic for internal detoxification.

Other uses: Berries can dye leather and hair blue or purple, and the roots and bark yield black dye. The wood, white and fine-grained, is suitable for crafting flutes, whistles, and toys due to its easy cutting and polishing properties. Additionally, pioneers found that the extensive roots of this plant enhance compost heap fermentation.

Growing

A plant that is easy to grow and can thrive in various soil and environmental conditions. It prefers moist, loamy soils but can also grow well in calcareous soils. While it can tolerate heavy clay soils and some shade, it produces better fruits in sunny locations. The plant is resilient to air pollution and coastal conditions but does not do well in very smoky environments. Elderberry is not commonly grown for its edible fruits, with only a few named cultivars developed mainly for ornamental purposes. The subspecies S. nigra alba produces white/green fruits that are tastier when eaten raw compared to the standard species. Elderberry has a rich history of traditional uses for medicinal and other purposes, making it a valuable plant in gardens. The plant's leaves typically start sprouting in January and fully open by April. In exposed areas, the leaves fall in October/November, while in sheltered spots, they drop later. Young shoots may be damaged by late frosts but quickly regenerate from the ground. Elderberry plants are highly tolerant of pruning, able to be cut back to ground level and regrow from the base. The flowers emit a sweet, strong scent that may have fishy undertones when smelled up close but is musky and appealing from a distance. Elderberry is highly resistant to rabbit attacks, with its flowers attracting insects and its fruits drawing birds away from other cultivated fruits. As an early colonizer of wastelands, elderberry seeds are dispersed by birds and mammals, making it an excellent pioneer species for reforestation efforts. Plants of this genus are known to be immune to the honey fungus.

Propagation

Seeds should be sown immediately after ripening in autumn in a cool environment to sprout in spring. Alternatively, stored seeds can be sown in spring in a cold setting, but they may benefit from being stratified for 2 months in warmth followed by 2 months in cold before planting. Once seedlings are big enough, transfer them to individual pots. Successful growth will allow young plants to be relocated permanently in early summer. Unsuccessful growth can lead to transplantation in a sheltered nursery bed or kept in pots in a sheltered area for planting the next spring. For semi-mature shoots, take 7-10 cm cuttings with a heel in a cold frame during July/August. For mature wood from the current year's growth, take 15-20 cm cuttings with a heel in late autumn in a cold frame or sheltered outdoor bed. Divide runners during the dormant season.

Notable

Special features: (sea+)wind+pollutant tolerant; high yield cultivation with special varieties; dedicated to the earth goddess 'Frau Holle'; sacred to the Celts, among other things as a birth+death tree; undemanding nitrogen indicator; supposed to divert negative energies into the earth; blossom marks the beginning of summer, fruit ripening the beginning of autumn; the medicine chest of the rural population+ poor man's wine.

Origin & habitat

Europe, from Scandinavia in the north to North Africa and West Asia in the south and east.

Not found in its natural habitat, but this species is bred in captivity.

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