Description
This is a Hybrid Elderberry.
Hybrid Elderberry is self-fertile and blooms spring to summer with white and cream flowers. It is spreading, upright, ornamental, a pioneer plant and fast growing. USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-7.
Cooked Elderberries have a wonderfully unique flavor and are packed full of antioxidants and a variety of vital vitamins and nutrients. These beautiful plants produces Elderflowers which are often used in teas or made into Elderflower fritters. We recommend eating Elderberries is some sort of cooked form as all raw parts of the plants contain toxic cyanogenic glycosides that can make you nauseous and possibly cause bodily harm, even in moderate doses.
| SKU: | E13 |
|---|---|
| Variety: | Ranch |
| Common Name: | Hybrid Elderberry |
| Latin Name: | Sambucus canadensis x nigra |
| Family: | Adoxaceae |
| Lifecycle: | Perennial |
| Leaf Drop: | Deciduous |
| Forest Layer: | Shrub |
| Food Type: | Berry |
| Height: | 8ft |
| Width: | 6ft |
| Sun: | Full, Partial |
| Soil PH: | 6-8 |
| Soil Type: | Sand, Loam, Clay, Heavy Clay, Chalk |
| Water Needs: | Average |
| Pollinated By: | Bees, Insects, Wind |
| Wildlife Supported: | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bird, Chipmunks |
| Food Uses: | Fruit when cooked, and Flowers when cooked or fried. |
| Other Uses: | The plant is a valuable addition to the compost heap, its flowers are an alternative ingredient of ‘QR’ herbal compost activator and the roots of the plant improve fermentation of the compost heap when growing nearby. The leaves are used as an insect repellent, very effective when rubbed on the skin though they do impart their own unique fragrance. They can be powdered and placed amongst plants to act as a deterrent, or made into a spray when they act as an insecticide. This is prepared by boiling 3 – 4 handfuls of leaves in a liter of water, then straining and allowing to cool before applying. Effective against many insects, it also treats various fungal infections such as leaf rot and powdery mildew. The dried flowering shoots are used to repel insects, rodents etc. The flowers are used in skin lotions, oils and ointments. Tolerant of salt-laden gales, this species can be grown as a shelter hedge in exposed maritime areas, it is rather bare in the winter though. This is an excellent pioneer species to use when re-establishing woodlands. It is very tough and wind-resistant, grows quickly and provides shelter for longer-lived and taller woodland species to establish. It will generally maintain itself in the developing woodland, though usually in the sunnier positions. A dye is obtained from the fruit and the bark. The bark of older branches and the root have been used as an ingredient in dyeing black. A green dye is obtained from the leaves when alum is used as a mordant. The berries yield various shades of blue and purple dyes. They have also been used as a hair dye, turning the hair black. The blue coloring matter from the fruit can be used as a litmus to test if something is acid or alkaline. It turns green in an alkaline solution and red in an acid solution. The pith in the stems of young branches pushes out easily and the hollow stems thus made have been used as pipes for blowing air into a fire. They can also be made into musical instruments. The pith of the wood is used for making microscope slides and also for treating burns and scalds. The mature wood is white and fine-grained. It is easily cut and polishes well. Valued highly by carpenters, it has many used, for making skewers, mathematical instruments, toys etc. A good forage for animals: mule deer, elk, sheep and small birds. It is classified as nesting habitat for many birds, including hummingbirds, warblers, and vireos. Elderberries are a favorite food for migrating band-tailed pigeons in northern California. |
| Sources: | pfaf.org calscape.org gardenia.net davesgarden.com ucanr.edu |
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.