Backyard Gardening
Elderberries Are Superfruits, Too!
By Kathryn Dorman
Have you ever eaten anything made with elderberries? When I was a kid, my grandmother often made me whole wheat toast with butter and elderberry jelly. Wow! It had such a unique flavor. It tasted sort of like black raspberry, but with an added kick. When I got older, I would go out on our farm and harvest the elderberries myself. I mostly made jelly, and sometimes pies. I’ve been looking forward to doing some research on elderberries, so I can be more successful in growing them. I bought the two bushes I have now at a store in Williamsport, which has been closed since February, 2020. These plants have never bloomed.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Forest Service (USDA/FS), elderberries were once considered to be close relatives of honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae family). All elderberry, or Sambucus species, are now placed in the muskroot, or Adoxaceae family (https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/sambucus_nigra_l.shtml). According to West Virginia University Extension (WVU), about ten Sambucus species have evolved in temperate and subtropical forests worldwide. European black (S. nigra) and red (S. racemose) elderberries can also be found in the northeastern United States. The only species that is native to northeastern North America is the American elderberry (S. canadensis). It is important to note that all parts of any elderberry plant are toxic if eaten raw, with red elderberry being the most poisonous. “Eating too many raw berries can lead to a buildup of cyanide in the body (https://extension.wvu.edu/agriculture/horticulture/elderberry).”
According to North Carolina State University Extension (NCSU), elderberries are woody, deciduous shrubs or small trees, which can be six to twelve feet high. Elderberry bushes can grow to be as wide as they are tall. The plants spread by growing sucker shoots. European elderberry plants tend to grow taller, and are less tolerant of Pennsylvania’s harsh winter weather. Otherwise, the plants are very similar. The opposite compound leaves have about seven leaflets per leaf, including a terminal leaflet at the end of each leaf stem. Leaflets have serrated, or saw-toothed, edges and turn yellow in autumn.
The large, flat-topped or rounded clusters (cymes) of tiny white elderberry flowers are quite showy (see Photo 1). I think it’s easiest to identify blooming elderberry bushes. Elderberries bloom from mid-June to mid-July, which is why you are reading this article now. Elderberries don’t ripen until mid-August or later. If you remember where you saw the flowers, you can find the berries. Berries are ripe when they have turned dark purple, almost black (see Photo 2). Each berry, or drupe, can contain three to five seeds. When harvesting, clip off the entire berry cluster. Gently remove berries from stems when you get back home (https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/sambucus-canadensis/).
American elderberry grows best in rich, moist (but well-drained) soils that are slightly acidic (5.5 – 6.5 pH). Elderberries are sensitive to drought conditions. I have found bushes in June that have died by August, due to lack of rain. The plant will have the most blooms if grown in full sun (six or more hours of sunlight per day). Have your soil tested every two to three years to check for optimal acidity and nitrogen level. In order to ensure good air movement, mature elderberry bushes should only have five to eight canes. Cut out any extra sucker shoots, as well as dead and diseased branches. Thinning out the plant will allow sunlight to reach all of the leaves (WVU). This also helps leaves dry faster, which lessens the chance of fungal infections, such as powdery mildew. Elderberry is also somewhat susceptible to aphids, borers, cankers, leaf spot, and spider mites (NCSU). Elderberry branches are weak and can be damaged by high winds and winter ice storms.
The use of elderberries for food and medicine dates back to prehistoric times in both Europe and America. I have already mentioned elderberry jelly and pies. Elder flowers and elderberries can also be used to make liqueur and wine, respectively. While they have historically been used in folk medicine, the usefulness of elderberries as “superfruits” is gaining support from current scientific research. Elderberries are high in vitamins A and C, as well as phosphorus, potassium, and iron. They are rich in antioxidant compounds, and have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties (WVU). Elderberry (sambucus) syrup and gummies are available from many different retail sources.
In ecological terms, the American elderberry provides food and habitat for many wildlife species. Bees, beetles, and wasps “are strongly attracted to elderberry flowers (USDA/FS).” Deer will browse on all plant parts. As many as 45 different bird species, as well as mice, raccoons, and squirrels will eat elderberries. When allowed to grow into thickets in the wild, elderberry bushes provide nesting sites and shelter for birds and other small animals (WVU). The shallow roots of elderberry bushes can also help to prevent erosion.
After doing the research for this article, I’ve decided that I should probably move my elderberry bushes to a sunnier location. Meanwhile, I will be scouting for the flowers of wild elderberry bushes now, so that I can harvest the ripe berries in August. Remember, in order to safely consume them, you must cook your elderberries, but it will be worth the effort!
