Elderberries

By SongofJoy
June 9, 2014

Living in Washington State for two years resulted in my first introduction to elderberries (Sambucus sp.). A friend took me on a hike into the woods and showed me where they were and how to identify them. The resulting jelly was wonderful.

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Jun 8, 2014 8:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
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Thanks, good information, great photos. Oh, love the yellow-leaved one, pretty!

Years ago my new father-in-law took me for a short walk, showed me how to identify elderberries and where some of the good plants were known to grow. He then said very seriously, "It's your job now to make the jelly every year."
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
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Jun 9, 2014 12:00 AM CST
Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages Plant Identifier I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Avid Green Pages Reviewer
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Garden Ideas: Master Level Cat Lover Birds Region: Tennessee Echinacea
nodding Elderberry jelly is such a treat! I think that was the first jelly I ever made. And it made a lasting impression.
I garden for the pollinators.
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Jun 9, 2014 1:27 PM CST
Name: Linda Williams
Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a)
Organic Gardener Bookworm Enjoys or suffers hot summers Charter ATP Member Salvias Herbs
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I have elderberry and love the flowers this time of year. I don't get any berries...unfortunately. Maybe someday I'll plant a different kind so there can be berries. Or maybe somebody else will have another kind of elderberry growing nearby someday. Mine are all from the original plant.
I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad
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Jun 9, 2014 1:27 PM CST
Name: Linda Williams
Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a)
Organic Gardener Bookworm Enjoys or suffers hot summers Charter ATP Member Salvias Herbs
Bluebonnets Native Plants and Wildflowers Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Forum moderator Purslane Hummingbirder
I have elderberry and love the flowers this time of year. I don't get any berries...unfortunately. Maybe someday I'll plant a different kind so there can be berries. Or maybe somebody else will have another kind of elderberry growing nearby someday. Mine are all from the original plant.
I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad
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Jun 9, 2014 2:13 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
Avid Green Pages Reviewer Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Rabbit Keeper Frugal Gardener Garden Ideas: Master Level
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My friend from Argentina used to make a type of cookie - a secret recipe using the heads of Elderberry flowers/Elderflowers.
These were served at wedding showers, the many flowers were a symbol of fertility wishing the bride to have many children.
The closest recipe I can find is for Elderflower fritters.

http://www.theguardian.com/lif...
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
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Jun 10, 2014 4:28 AM CST
Name: Vickie
southern Indiana (Zone 6b)
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Nice article. I didn't realize there were so many varieties of elderberry. I have 'Black Beauty' and really love it; however, it died back this winter and only a few stems came back.
May all your weeds be wildflowers. ~Author Unknown
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Jun 10, 2014 5:11 AM CST
Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages Plant Identifier I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Avid Green Pages Reviewer
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Garden Ideas: Master Level Cat Lover Birds Region: Tennessee Echinacea
Thank you. This past winter was a tough one. I hope it will rebound for you next year.
I garden for the pollinators.
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Jun 10, 2014 12:02 PM CST
Name: Mary
The dry side of Oregon
Be yourself, you can be no one else
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We have a few bushes that grew from a plant we dug up in my sister's pasture. Over the years we have harvested a lot of berries which I put in my big steamer to extract the juice.

Here is the harvest from several years ago, each bucket holds about 4 gallons. I don't remember how much juice it made.
Thumb of 2014-06-10/MaryE/17df48
Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.
More ramblings at http://thegatheringplacehome.m...
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Jun 10, 2014 2:51 PM CST
Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages Plant Identifier I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Avid Green Pages Reviewer
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Garden Ideas: Master Level Cat Lover Birds Region: Tennessee Echinacea
Great harvest, Mary.
I garden for the pollinators.
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Jun 10, 2014 3:53 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
Avid Green Pages Reviewer Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Rabbit Keeper Frugal Gardener Garden Ideas: Master Level
Plant Identifier Region: Georgia Native Plants and Wildflowers Composter Garden Sages Bookworm
@MaryE, how pretty. That type does not grow here in the southeast; yours are beautiful.
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
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Jun 10, 2014 3:54 PM CST
Name: cheshirekat
New Mexico, USA Zone 8 (Zone 8a)
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I had two elderberry bushes I harvested to make elderberry tonic each year. It was absolutely the best thing I ever grew for my health. All I had to do was pick a bunch of berries, strip them from the stems, mash the berries, and boil them with just enough water to cover the berries. When it cooled, I poured some in freezer bags and stacked the bags flat in the freezer. I made tea from other herbs in my garden and once every other week or so in the winter months, I took a chunk of the frozen elderberry juice and dropped it into a nice hot cup of tea, with honey. For the first time in my life, I survived a winter without a cold, flu, or pneumonia. For several years, I was never sick, because of the elderberry tonic. Sometimes, I just had hot tonic with honey. It was quite delicious and I really wish I had some elderberries in my new home to pick this fall. The elderberries I grew were so plentiful that I was able to leave a lot of the berries for the birds.

There are many recipes for elderberry tonic on the internet, but I kept mine simple so I could use it in a variety of teas and different fruits and herbs added for flavoring. Now that I am growing stevia, I would boil the leaves with the berries and strain them out before freezing. If I only had some elderberries. I also miss the heavenly smell of the blossoms. I could never walk through my garden without stopping to smell the blossoms, even from several feet away. It is my favorite flower scent and I would grow them just to smell the blossoms if I was unable to make the tonic.
"A garden is a friend you can visit any time." - Anonymous
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Jun 11, 2014 4:50 AM CST
Name: Caroline Scott
Calgary (Zone 4a)
Bulbs Winter Sowing Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Peonies Lilies Charter ATP Member
Region: Canadian Enjoys or suffers cold winters Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
I have one red elderberry which has grown rather scraggly due to neglect.
After reading your article and the comments to it, I think I will prune it back and
see what it will grow into when care is given.
Thanks for a great article. I have the Black Lace one too---it dies off every winter.
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