Sambucus nigra is a temperate species of tree or shrub in the family Viburnaceae native to the Azores, Europe, and the Middle East. Common names include elder, elderberry, black elder, European elder, European elderberry, and European black elderberry. It grows in a variety of conditions including both wet and dry fertile soils, primarily in sunny locations. The plant is widely grown as an ornamental shrub or small tree. Both the flowers and the berries have a long tradition of culinary use, primarily for cordial and wine. Although the plant is commonly used in dietary supplements and traditional medicine, there is no clinical evidence that it provides any health effect.
Description Elderberry is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 6 metres (20 ft) tall and wide, rarely reaching 10 m (33 ft) tall. The bark, light gray when young, changes to a coarse gray outer bark with lengthwise furrowing, lenticels prominent. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, 10–30 centimetres (4–12 inches) long, pinnate with five to seven (rarely nine) leaflets, the leaflets 5–12 cm (2–4+3⁄4 in) long and 3–5 cm (1+1⁄4–2 in) broad, with a serrated margin. The young stems are hollow. The hermaphroditic flowers have five stamens, which are borne in large, flat corymbs 10–25 cm in diameter in late spring to mid-summer. The individual flowers are ivory white, 5–6 millimetres (3⁄16–1⁄4 in) in diameter, with five petals, and are pollinated by flies. The fruit is a glossy, dark purple to black berry 3–5 mm diameter, produced in drooping clusters in late autumn. The dark color of elderberry fruit occurs from its rich phenolic content, particularly from anthocyanins.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are several other closely related species, native to Asia and North America, which are similar, and sometimes treated as subspecies of Sambucus nigra, including S. nigra subsp. canadensis and S. nigra subsp. cerulea.
Etymology The Latin specific epithet nigra means "black", and refers to the deeply dark colour of the berries. The English term for the tree is not believed to come from the word "old", but from the Anglo Saxon æld, meaning fire, because the hollow stems of the branches were used as bellows to blow air into a fire.
Distribution and habitat Sambucus nigra is native to Europe as far east as Turkey. It is native in, and common throughout, the British Isles. It has been introduced to parts of most other continents of the world. S. nigra grows in a wide range of habitats, including woodland, grassland, hedgerows, scrub, river banks, roadsides, railway banks and waste ground. It is generally associated with open or disturbed, nutrient-rich sites, such as woodland edges, forest gaps, abandoned fields and urban areas; it is not tolerant of drought and avoids saline soils.
Ecology
Like other elderberries, S. nigra is subject to elder whitewash fungus and jelly ear fungus. Strong-scented flowers in wild populations of S. nigra attract numerous, minute flower thrips which may contribute to the transfer of pollen between inflorescences.
Wildlife value Elder rates as fair to good forage for animals such as mule deer, elk, sheep, and small birds. The fruit are an important food for many fruit-eating birds, notably blackcaps. Ripe elderberries are a food for migrating band-tailed pigeons in northern California, which may sometimes strip an entire bush in a short time. Except for the flowers and ripe berries (but including the ripe seeds), all parts of the plant are poisonous to mammals, containing the cyanogenic glycoside sambunigrin (C14H17NO6, CAS number 99–19–4). The bark contains calcium oxalate crystals.
Cultivation
S. nigra is grown as an ornamental shrub or small tree, especially in informal hedges, wildlife gardens and mixed borders. It is vigorous and adaptable, growing in sun or partial shade and in most soils; it tolerates both wet and dry soils, although it performs poorly in deep shade or dry conditions. Leaf colour in purple- or golden-leaved cultivars is usually strongest in full sun. The species is also cultivated commercially for flowers and fruit. Although it tolerates soils from sand to clay, best growth and yield have been reported on well-drained, organic-rich, slightly acidic soils, about pH 6.0–6.5. Plants for commercial plantations are usually propagated from own-rooted hardwood cuttings taken from one-year-old shoots, while seed propagation is less common because seedlings are variable and the seeds have dormancy requirements. Weed control is important during establishment, as black elder competes poorly with other plants. Garden plants need little pruning, but established plants can be hard pruned in late winter or early spring to restrict size or encourage fresh ornamental foliage. In commercial orchards, dormant pruning is usually begun from the second year, removing dead, damaged or diseased wood and stems older than three years, as productivity declines on four-year-old branches. Annual coppicing to ground level is generally not recommended since most commercial cultivars do not fruit on first-year canes. Some selections and cultivars have variegated or coloured leaves and other distinctive qualities, and are grown as ornamental plants. S. nigra f. porphyrophylla has dark maroon or black leaves, and pale pink flowers. The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:
S. nigra f. laciniata (cut-leaved elder) S. nigra f. porphyrophylla 'Eva' ('Black Lace') S. nigra f. porphyrophylla 'Gerda'
Toxicity Components of the elderberry plant, including its fruit, contain diverse phytochemicals, such as alkaloids, lectins, and cyanogenic glycosides, which may be toxic if consumed raw. The seeds and all green parts of the plant contain cyanogenic glycosides. Consumption of berries, leaves, bark or stems, if not properly prepared, may cause nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea. Elderberry plant constituents or products should not be consumed during pregnancy or by people with allergies or gastrointestinal diseases. Elderberry products may cause adverse effects when used with prescription drugs.
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