Elderberry

[alexgadd]

Hi

I know Elderberry bushes/trees are a wild plant that seems to self seed and grow where it wants, but if I wanted to grow a new plant can someone advise how best to proceed.

Thanks

Alex

[Flummery]

Never tried this but yesterday I noticed a very dark elder in a garden - I know you can buy aurea and nigra types - but I'd never noticed it in flower before. The flowers are a deep pink - very attractive plant altogether.
As to the wild type, you could try sowing some of the berries. Many seem to pass through a bird (via dark stains on my patio/windows!) but try sowing in autumn and leaving the pot outside to get some winter weather on it.

[Palustris]

The dark leafed pink flowered elder and for that matter the variegated onees are NOT our native Elder. they are Sambucus forms and the berries are NOT edible when raw, indeed some of them are poisonous.
The native and edible elder, Sambucus nigra is ok. A new one is easy, either dig up a bit from the wild or sow a berry or two in autumn.
Check before eating any of the Elderberries from cultivated forms.

[alexgadd]

The dark leafed pink flowered elder and for that matter the variegated onees are NOT our native Elder. they are Sambucus forms and the berries are NOT edible when raw, indeed some of them are poisonous.

Are the elderflowers poisonous also?

Alex

[SarzWix]

If you look on www.crocus.co.uk , they have a 'plant search' bit, if you put 'elder' in the search it comes up with a list & the poisonous ones have a skull & crossbones icon next to them so you know which is which.
I have just bought Sambucus Nigra 'Black Lace' from the local nursery, which is a purple foliage/pink flowered type. These are suitable for wine-making with; I'd probably not eat any elderberries raw, they add good flavour to fruit pies, jams etc (esp. with blackberries) and make great wine

[Two_Sheds]

You can take cuttings of Elder...probably in July

[nick the grief]

If you pick the berries an squish them between 2 peices of newspaper and then leave them to dry out. Sow them in some steralised garden soil ( 5 mins in the microwave or a couple of hours at gas mark 1 in a biscuit tin in the oven) and then leave them in a coldframe.

Or move to our house, the damn things pop up every where courtacy of the birds !

[alexgadd]

Cheers, have found one growing in an alley (about 8' high so no fear of dogs p&%s on it!) so may borrow a few berries.