Heads of creamy white lace flowers appear in summer, leading to blue-black berries in autum. Perennial. H:6m W:spread 3m. 12cm, 17cm.

Growth Characteristics:
• Perennial, Deciduous, Frost hardy,
• Shrub or small tree,
• Heads of creamy white flowers appear in summer, leading to shiny. blue-black berries in autumn,
• The flowers attract bees while the berries are eaten by birds,

Height:
• ±6m; Spread: ±3m.

Cultivation:
• Full sun; Well drained, composted soil.

Harvesting:
• Pick flowers in spring, berries in autumn and fresh leaves throughout the year.

 

Fresh flowers:
• Made into elderflower wine, summer drinks, jams and jellies - adding a muscatel flavour,
• Fried in batter to make elderflower fritters,
• Dried flowers are made into tea.

The Berries:
• Made into jams or jellies and the juice can be fermented into elderberry wine,
• Use in chutneys, sauces,
• To flavour and colour stewed fruits and jellies,
• Juice is boiled with sugar to make a cordial (elderberry rob), flavoured with ginger and cloves.

• Flowers have a lovely muscatel scent,
• Improve the complexion by splashing cold elderflower tea daily onto the face.It will also tone and soothe the skin.

Elder may be beneficial in the following cases:

General
• Berries contain Vitamin C and Iron.

Nervous System
• Juice of cooked berries: Headaches.

Skin
• Leaves and bark: Topical for minor burns and chilblains,
• Flowers: Topical for irritated or inflamed skin.

Lymphatic System
• A rich source of anthocyanins, a group of antioxidants that help protect the body against diseases.

Respiratory System
• Flowers and berries: Influenza, Colds, Catarrh, Sinusitis, and feverish illnesses.

Digestive system
• Bark, Berries: Constipation.

Urinary System
• Leaves and berries: diuretic.

Musculo / Skeletal System
• Fruit: Rheumatic complaints,
• Bark: Arthritic conditions.

Preparation and dosage:
TEA:
• Flowers: 2 teaspoons in a cup of boiling water, infuse for 5 minutes. Drink half-1 cup two-hourly for acute conditions,
• Cold tea is laxative and sedative,
• Hot tea excites and stimulates.

FLOWER TINCTURE:
• 2-4 ml three times per day.

Repellant for:
• Elder leaves are boiled and strained to make a natural insecticidal spray.