Sambucus nigra L.

Shrub or small tree to c. 6 m high. Stems grey, strongly lenticellate; vegetative shoots with thick white pith. Leaflets (3)-5-7, dark purple when very young, soon green. Petiole to c. 7 cm long on flowering branches, ± hairy. Petiolules hairy; lateral petiolules < 1 cm long; terminal petiolule > 1 cm long. Lamina of terminal leaflet 4.5-11-(13) × 3.5-6-(7) cm, broad-elliptic to broad-ovate, glabrous, or ± hairy on veins beneath and on midrib above, serrate except towards base; apex acute to cuspidate. Lamina of lateral leaflets smaller and narrower. Infl. a large flat corymb, mostly 10-20 cm across, glabrous or nearly so, with slender peduncles and pedicels which usually become red or purple at fruiting, or occasionally remain green. Fls foetid. Calyx 0.5 mm long. Corolla white; lobes 2.5-3 mm long, broad-elliptic. Stamens < corolla. Fr. 4-8.5 mm diam., globose or subglobose, usually shining black, occasionally green. Pyrenes c. 3 mm long, ovoid-oblong, rugose.

It is a temperate plant. It only fruits consistently between 400 m and 1800 m altitude in the tropics. The plant grows up to 2600 m altitude. It can grow in the European Alps up to 1500 m altitude. It is damaged by drought but can tolerate frost. It needs a protected shady position. It grows naturally in temperate regions in the northern hemisphere. It favours soils with a high nitrogen content. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 5-10. Arboretum Tasmania.

The ripe fruit are used for jams and drinks. They are also used for wine. They are high in Vitamin C. The flowers can be eaten cooked. They are added to salads and made into fritters fried with eggs. The flowers have a slightly bitter taste and are used in elder flower cordial. The flowers and leaves are boiled for herbal tea. The seeds are pressed for oil. CAUTION The roots, leaves and stems are reported to be poisonous. The fruit are considered poisonous when green but edible when black.

Trees can be grown by dividing the rootstock, or by cuttings. They can also be grown from seed.