Elderberry

[sammyqc]

These are the dark ones, almost black. IIRC, they bloom in late June, early July.

[ceara]

Yes those are the ones I'd like to find. Will let you know how my hunt goes!

[greenhummer]

Thanks for the recipes ceara,please post more as I'm trying to add to my collection. My grandmother in Germany used to make Elderberry Flower water that was better than lemonade. When I was young we would eat the berries right off the plants. The European elderberries are also very productive and larger than most.

[peppereater]

Hmmm, don't know how I overlooked this thread. I have elderberry bushes. I'd be glad to send hardwood cuttings and/or seed for postage, or I could send seed (after next season's fruiting) no postage nescessary. My experience is that a stalk with roots intact grows rapidly and, I believe, will fruit the same year as it's transplanted. I was going to ship some to a couple of friends last spring, but they broke dormancy early and were nearly wiped out from a severe freeze. There's a good chance numerous sprouts will begin to emerge here in early to mid spring. Ayone who wants seed or starts, feel free to pm me.
As to the flowers, they actually have a rather mild, but unappealing, smell, maybe a bit like pear blossoms. The fruit isn't worth eating fresh, but it makes perhaps the best jelly and syrup I've ever tasted. I've not used the berries from my plants...as flowerpower said, the birds clean them out fast, practically overnight!
I seem to remember my mother frying the blossoms in tempura batter. I'm sure they were tasty, but I was too young to remember.
As far as gum trees go, I don't know much, but I believe chewing gum was originally made from one of the hardwoods, maybe Sour Gum or another relative of sweetgums and such. Also, Chiclets are evidently named for the tree or sap or whatever called chicle, I may look that up. I suppose gum could be made from various tree's sap, with various medicinal properties.

[bunkie]

i haave never heard of the dark elderberry. we have the light blue ones here. i have made wine from the flowers which is excellent for a cough or cold. also, a few years back tried making a hand lotion that was great out of the flowers. i haven't used the berries much, yet.

[ozarklady]

Elderberries set fruit last summer, right when it was too hot to make syrup or jam out of. In my determination to have Elderberry syrup, I went ahead and gathered them, and simply took the berries off the stems, washed them and froze them.
I have bag after bag of frozen elderberries in my freezer, unprocessed.
I wonder, if I took a few out and set them aside to dry, if they would be ready to plant next year? Or is there more to do to them to save seeds? They grow wild here, so abundant, that I can't pick even 1/10th of them, and the kids all eat them as a summer snack.
They have no bad odor, and we like the taste of them right off the bushes.
I am trying to figure the best way to go from frozen berries to a seed to send to anyone who wants some... these are wild elderberries, they are so dark that they look black.

[plantsnobin]

Sambucus canadensis is the dark purple, almost black berry native here. Mockingbirds just love them, and my chickens will climb up the limbs to get them. You can cut it down to the ground in winter and it will quickly regrow and produce. I have one S caerulea growing from seed that should be large enough to plant out this year. I am looking forward to it fruiting. They sucker readily, so site them where that won't be a problem.

[qahtan]

We have one elderberry plant, gives us a good harvest most years.. elder flowers give a wonderful flavour to strawberry jam. elderberry champagne is fabulous
this is what our berrys look like also elderberry jelly. the jelly is a great favourite with every one...... grouville

[ceara]

Thanks for the offer, but I already put in an order a couple months ago for two Elderberry bushes from McFayden in Canada. I will receive them in May.

I hear they grow pretty quick. Is that accurate?

Richters Herbs in Canada sells dried berries and petals. But I like the idea of ordering live plants.

[bluelacedredhead]

Good luck with your plantings, Ceara. The pics and descriptions on here look scrumptious. I've never tried Elderberry. Perhaps I'll have to hunt some down now.

[cornishwoman]

My grandad used the leaves of his elderberry,he boiled them in water then used that liquid for a spray to treat powdery mildew on his grapes and apple trees,I learnt about willow water from him,and that I know works,the elderberry leaves I have never done. I have some elderberrys planted now so I may try that spray if I see some mildew.

[mnjrutherford]

Kate, Val told us about using willow tea for rooting. What do you use willow water for? The tea is made by steeping leaves and twigs in boiling water for about 15 minutes. Is the willow water made differently?

[mjc]

Willow water/willow tea...same thing.

[cornishwoman]

Its the same thing. I use it the same as val told you I expect.I cut pencil thin branches,then steep them in boiling water,I guess about 3 cups of branches and my boiling pot is a gallon pot.Seep that over night,then what I don't use I keep in the fridge,I don't know how long the potency lasts in the fridge.I root most of my cuttings directly in a container of willow water and some summers I have not boiled the water but just let the branches soak,an entire day should do the trick.Water transplants with it also,shrubs and trees,and the cuttings.The best artist charcol is made from willow and cricket bats of course.

[mnjrutherford]

aahhhhh.... ok, what about adding a touch of fish emulsion for watering the transplants and rootings? Overkill or genius touch?