Elderberry
If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you know one of the most powerful magical objects is the Elder Wand, which was fashioned from the wood of the Sambucus nigra shrub, native to the warmer regions of Europe and North America. Elderberries may not be magic, but they have long been applied to swelling and wounds, and have more recently been used as a treatment for cold and flu symptoms. The delicious purple-black berries are enjoyed in jams and jellies, and they make a popular type of wine.
Health Benefits
In the fall, elderberries turn a deep purple, showcasing their high concentrations of antioxidant flavonoids, anthocyanins, and quercetin, all believed to account for the medicinal actions of this plant’s berries and flowers.
European herbalists traditionally used elderberry for pain relief and to promote the healing of injuries. They later learned from North American Aboriginal peoples that the plant was useful for infections, coughs, and other conditions, too.
Elderberry is one of your most powerful allies against influenza. According to Health Canada, the flu affects between 10% and 25% of Canadians every year (usually between November and April), and sends 20,000 people to the hospital, killing roughly 4,000. The good news is one study confirmed that people receiving a daily dose of elderberry syrup—packed with therapeutic phytonutrients—recovered faster than those receiving a placebo.
Additional uses include as a laxative for constipation, a stimulant for general immune function, and a treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis. Essentially, if anything from your nose to your throat to your lungs is infected or affected, turn to these berries.
DIFFICULTY
Easy
HARDINESS
Perennial in zones 3 to 9
TIME TO PLANT
Spring or early fall
TIME TO HARVEST
Late summer
LOCATION
Full to part sun
SOIL TYPE
Moist, well-drained
Growing
Elderberry is an attractive landscape shrub and comes in a wide range of varieties. They are relatively easy to grow, but they are not suited to small spaces. Some varieties will grow well in pots, but these will not produce adequate fruit yields.
Common Varieties: Elder varieties are sometimes treated as distinct species, and other times as subspecies of Sambucus nigra. The Canada elder (S. nigra canadensis) is common in central and eastern North America. Popular cultivars include the cutleaf elderberry (‘Lacinata’) and Black Lace (‘Eva’), which has purple-black foliage. Make sure that you don’t plant dwarf elder (Sambucus ebulus) for medicinal purposes—it can be toxic.
PLANT
Plant elder in early spring. Although elderberries will thrive in almost any soil, they do best in loamy soil that is well-drained and rich in organic matter. Elders grow big: They average about 2 metres (6 feet) high and up to 3 metres (10 feet) wide, and some can get much larger. So leave plenty of space when planting—at least 1 to 2 metres (3 to 6 feet), or as indicated on the plant’s tag.
Elders need to be cross-pollinated if they are to produce berries, so plant two or more cultivars close to one other.
GROW
Elderberry is not drought-tolerant. On average it requires between 10 and 20 mm of water per week. Water as needed, and use mulch to maintain moisture and reduce the risk of plant loss.
In late winter or early spring, prune away any dead, broken, or weak stems. During the growing season remove weeds surrounding the plants. Avoid heavy pruning for the first couple of seasons; wait until they are established.
Elderberries are loved by many creatures, especially birds. Apply garden netting in midsummer, before berries ripen, to save some fruit for you!
Inspect plants often and be on the lookout for white powdery mildew on the leaves; if you spot mildew, remove and discard the infected branches.
HARVEST
The shrub will produce some berries during its first season, but yields will increase during the second and third years. Berries will ripen sporadically over a 2-week period in late summer to early fall. To harvest them, use a fork to tease the ripe berries off their stems. Only harvest fully ripe berries, which will be plump and almost black in colour.
When designing gardens or containers that are functional and attractive, look for plants with more than one season of interest. Plants like elderberry offer multiple periods of display, from flowers to foliage to fruit! White blooms appear in spring, giving way to purplish berries in the fall. Varieties such as Black Lace ‘Eva’ (below) also feature show-stopping dark foliage throughout the growing season.
STORE
Wash elderberries just before use. Store fresh berries loosely in a container, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to a week. To freeze, wash berries in cold water and pat dry. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze. Once frozen, transfer to resealable bags. You can preserve berries in jams and jellies. Elderberries can also be placed in a dehydrator and dried.
Put It to Work
No flu for you? Take this triple tincture!
North Americans spend about $2.9 billion on over-the-counter cold and flu remedies every year, but some may be unsafe, especially for children. Many include the cough suppressant dextromethorphan (DXM) and an expectorant called guaifenesin, two chemicals worth avoiding. Elderberry extract can address both of these treatments naturally!
To make this remedy you’ll need to keep an eye on your elderberry plants throughout the growing season. In spring, when the shrub is blooming, collect 2 cups of the flowers and wash them thoroughly. Bring ½ cup of water to a boil in a large saucepan and add the flowers. Boil for 10 minutes, turn off the heat, and let cool. Drain.
Purée the boiled flowers in a blender. Pour into a small resealable glass jar (like a Mason jar; it should be filled about halfway). Fill the jar with vodka (at least 80 proof) to make a tincture. (To make a children’s formula, substitute vinegar for the alcohol.) Place wax paper over the jar and then screw the lid on tightly to seal it. Set aside in a cool, dark place. Vigorously shake the jar daily until it is time to harvest the berries.
In the fall, collect 3 cups of fully ripe berries. Wash the berries. Place 2 cups of the berries in an airtight container and place in the freezer. Place the remaining 1 cup of berries in a blender and add the prepared flower tincture. Blend on medium speed until smooth. Pour into a clean jar large enough to hold the entire contents. Seal and set aside in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks.
After 2 weeks, cover the mouth of the jar with a coffee filter or cheesecloth and strain the beautiful dark purple liquid into a glass bowl. Carefully squeeze out all the liquid from the coffee filter (discard solids).
In a blender, blend the infusion with 1 cup of the frozen berries until smooth. Return the mixture to the jar. To sweeten, add 5 tablespoons of manuka honey.
For a super-concentrated, flu-busting elderberry elixir, repeat the process with the remaining cup of frozen elderberries 2 weeks later.
Take 1 teaspoon 3 times daily through cold and flu season. Store the tincture in a cool, dark place.
Always getting sick? Stick to this syrup!
Some people seem to succumb to every virus that goes around. Elderberry is suspected to boost the immune system as well as coat viral particles so they can’t infect cells as readily. If you’re always coming down with something, consider taking this immune-boosting syrup right through the winter.
4 cups water
Freshly squeezed juice of ½ lemon
1 cup elderberries (fresh or frozen)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
3 tsp ground ginger
½ cup liquid honey
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the water and lemon juice. Add the berries, cinnamon, and ginger and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, being careful not to overboil. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a resealable glass jar (like a Mason jar). Add the honey and mix thoroughly. If desired, add ½ cup of echinacea tincture (see opposite page). Take 1 tablespoon daily to support and strengthen your immune system. The syrup will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Fast Forward
Fast forward to the health food store to purchase Clef des Champs elder tincture or equivalent. Follow the instructions on the label.
Cautions
Make sure elderberries are fully ripe and fully cooked before you use them: Unripe raw berries are poisonous. Other plant parts (including the leaves, stems, and root) may also contain toxic constituents related to cyanide and may cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Avoid elderberry if you have any allergy to plants in the Adoxaceae family, which also includes viburnum. There are some reports of allergies in children playing with toys made from fresh elder stems.
Because elderberry helps to heighten immune response, people with autoimmunity disorders and those taking immunosuppressant drugs should avoid it. High doses of elderberry may have diuretic (urine-producing) effects, so those already taking diuretics or “water pills” should avoid it. Elderberry may also lower blood sugar, so additional blood tests may be necessary in those with diabetes or hypoglycemia.
