elder

Sambucus nigra

• Deciduous shrub
   
• Browny-grey, twisted trunk and branches
   
• Leaves similar to Ash, with toothed leaflets opposite one another
   
• Clusters of tiny white flowers that smell unpleasant
   
• Drooping clusters of round, green berries ripen to black in autumn
   

Where found

Very common in hedges, waste ground, woodland edges and scrub on fertile, moist soils throughout the UK
 

When to look for

• Leaves from March
    
• Flowers in June
   
• Leaves drop in October/November
   
• Ripe fruit in September/October
   

Did you know?

Elderflower cordial and elderberry wine are popular uses of the flowers and fruit. The Romans used elderberry juice as a hair dye and elderberry syrup makes an effective cold remedy.

The word elder comes from the Anglo Saxon word aeld meaning “fire”. The hollow stems of the young branches were used for blowing air into a fire. The stems have also been used to make simple flutes, whistles and peashooters.

Some people find elder flowers fragrant, others think the smell is unpleasant. However they are very popular with insects, and the berries are sought after by birds.The leaves are also very pungent and ironically, these make an effective insect repellent.

In Denmark the tree was associated with magic; a dryad called the Elder-tree mother was supposed to live in its branches. If furniture was made from the wood, the Elder-tree mother would follow and haunt the owners.To avoid this she must be asked before the wood is cut.