In the UK, our native elders have enjoyed a long association with human habitation. They are the country ragamuffins that spring up unbidden in damp corners and middens; they are the quick-growing hedgerow plants, which although not strong or dense enough to contain cattle, are distinctive for their glamorous show of fragrant flowers, which provide the scented backdrop to early summer.
What is elderflower: a factfile
- What Spring-flowering shrubs and small trees with compound leaves made up of serrated leaflets, and panicles of individually small, usually scented flowers, followed by large clusters of anthocyanin- rich drupes, known as elderberries, which are usually reddish or purple, but may be green or yellow. A genus of 22 species of deciduous, primarily woody plants, Sambucus is classified within the Viburnaceae family.
- Season Year-round structure with flowers mainly in spring and early summer; and fruit in late summer to early autumn.
- Size Ranging from 45cm to 7m tall and 45cm to 5m wide. Conditions Elders enjoy good, rich soil with plenty of moisture; full sun is preferred.
- Origins Sambucus is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, with a few outlying species in South America and Australasia.
- Hardiness Generally very hardy, with an RHS hardiness rating of H6-H7, and suitable for gardens in USDA zones 3a to 10b.
- When grown in the ground, plants can tolerate temperatures below -20°C. Some can be damaged by late frost.
The fruit, meanwhile, yields the potent wine of legend and myth. And yet Sambucus remains a divisive and rather contradictory plant. It is a curious fact of gardening that while some plants are lauded for their fine qualities of fragrance, flower or form, others can be largely overlooked, despite their evident assets. Where inelegantly shrubby viburnum and lilac are appreciated, the hedgerow-chic and frothy blooms of similarly gawky Sambucus have failed to impress to the same extent.
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Yet these plants are largely untroubled by pests and, given a moist spot and sunshine, are almost bombproof. Historically, their edible flowers and fruit have been harvested from wild or hedgerow specimens and used in a range of cordials and fermented beverages, but with the arrival of new and ornamental introductions, they are increasing in popularity as a garden subject and the National Collection of Sambucus, held at Cotswold Garden Flowers in Worcestershire, includes more than 147 different cultivars.
Despite its culinary traditions, Sambucus contains cyanogenic glycosides, which must be cooked out before consumption. Eating any part of the plant, including the raw fruit, can cause severe discomfort, dizziness and vomiting. Potential toxicity notwithstanding, elderflower champagne and cordial are iconic, and the flowers can also be turned into sorbet.
Found naturally in hedgerows and in moist, nutrient-rich locations, elders thrive in heavy, damp soil
To harvest the best-flavoured blooms, timing is key. The flowers use scent to attract their night-flying pollinators and the fragrance peaks at about one o’clock in the morning. This, therefore, is held to be the best time to harvest them, though the fragrance and flavour hold well until early dawn, before deteriorating as the day wears on. Crushed and cooked, the berries can be transformed into a hearty country wine or cordial, or an anthocyanin-packed tonic, said to be good for sore throats.
How to grow sambucus or elderflower
Tough and easy to grow, elders will persist in sub-optimum conditions, but perform better if treated well. A sunny spot will result in a vigorous, floriferous specimen, and although shade is tolerated, growth will be slower.
Found naturally in hedgerows and in moist, nutrient-rich locations, elders thrive in heavy, damp soil. Tolerant of cold and wind, most cultivars will put up with an exposed location, but they also do
well in lower levels within a woodland-edge setting, as part of a light ornamental screen or adding weight to the back of a border.
Elders prefer rich, moist, well-drained soil with a fairly neutral pH. They tend to do well on clay, but dislike actively boggy areas, and because they resent drying out, they struggle on light, free-draining sand or thin, chalky soils.
When to plant sambucus
Elders are best planted in winter when they are dormant, giving them time to establish and reducing the need for watering in their first season. If they are planted in growth, they should be watered regularly and not allowed to dry out.
How to plant sambucus
Dig a square hole twice the size of the pot and add a handful of phosphate-rich, slow-release fertiliser. Loosen the roots if needed and set the plant into the ground at the height it was growing before. As the roots grow, they will hit the straight edge of the planting pit and break out into the surrounding soil. Back-fill with loose soil, firm it in around the roots, water well and mulch. Staking is not usually necessary.
When to prune sambucus
Sambucus can be somewhat untidy and so benefit from regular pruning, according to vigour. In lighter soils where the shrub is struggling, remove no more than a quarter of the wood, or less if drought has been an issue, in any given year. Where the tree is flourishing in heavy, damp soil, up to two-thirds of the stems can be removed as the moisture means the plant can replenish itself.
How to propagate sambucus
Propagation is fairly straightforward. Softwood cuttings can be taken in early summer and hardwood cuttings in early winter, choosing pencil-thick stems and trimming to three nodes. It is better to avoid taking cuttings in late winter as the stems often try to flower when brought inside. Seeds can be harvested from ripe berries and sown in pots of compost.
How to treat problems with sambucus
Problems with this genus are few but specific. Drying out affects Sambucus badly and successive periods of drought may well kill the plant. They also dislike extremes of pH. Red spider mite may be an issue, particularly in dry seasons and growers recommend biological control, using a natural predator in the form of another mite.
Elder trees are also prone to infestations of blackfly, but these do not trouble them to any great extent. Shocking the tree by overharvesting the flowers causes the tree to exhaust itself by trying to rebloom. Picking no more than a third of the flowers in any given year will keep the tree healthy and cordial futures secure.
The best elderflower varieties
Where to see and buy
- Monksilver Nursery Oakington Road, Cottenham, Cambridge CB24 ornamental foliage is an asset and green, gold or purple cultivars 8TW. Tel 01954 251555, monksilvernursery.co.uk
- Burncoose Nurseries Gwennap, Redruth, Cornwall TR16 6BJ. Tel 01209 860316, burncoose.co.uk
- Cotswold Garden Flowers Sands Lane, Badsey, Worcestershire, Tel 01386 833849, cotswoldgardenflowers.co.uk
Naomi Slade is a horticultural journalist, author and garden designer.