shrub layer
elder
sambucus nigra
flowers for cordial and pollinators, berries for birds and syrup, hollow stems for nesting insects. thrives where nutrients pool.
functions
field guide
native to
Europe
height
3–6 m
spread
to 4 m
hardiness
RHS H5 · USDA 4–8
light
part shade
moisture
moist
soil
rich, nitrogen-loving
uses
in the kitchen
flowers (cordial, fritters) and cooked berries — raw berries are mildly toxic, so always cook them
traditional medicine
flowers and berries are a long-standing folk remedy for colds and flu
historical & folk use — not medical advice.
harvest
flowerheads in early summer, berries in late summer
propagation
hardwood cuttings root almost too easily
season
open the calendar →grower's notes
memberspropagation, guild role, and deeper ecology for elder — the members' view.
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relationships — grows well with
see elder on the relationship map →the takeaway
start a guild around elder
plant these together and the relationships on this page start working for you — feeders, protectors, and cover, layer by layer.
- shrub
- elder — the anchor
- canopy
- rowan
- herbaceous
- stinging nettlecomfrey (bocking 14)