Elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

Description

Elderberry is a many-stemmed shrub with opposite, compound leaves. It grows to a height of 6 meters. Its flowers are fragrant, white, and borne in large flat-topped clusters up to 30 centimeters across. Its berrylike fruits are dark blue or black when ripe.

Habitat and Distribution

This plant is found in open, usually wet areas at the margins of marshes, rivers, ditches, and lakes. It grows throughout much of eastern North America and Canada.

Edible Parts

The flowers and fruits are edible. You can make a drink by soaking the flower heads for 8 hours, discarding the flowers, and drinking the liquid.

Steve's notes:

Generally, the raw berries are considered inedible, although some varieties were regularly eaten raw by some native American tribes. Drying or cooking destroys the bad-smelling and potentially toxic compounds. The berries are most often used in jams, jellies, wines and pies.

The flowers have been used to make wine, as well as "fritters." For the latter, you dip the flower clusters in batter and fry them. Try not to eat too much of the flower stalks, as most parts of the plant are considered to be poisonous.

Some sources say the red-fruited varieties are somewhat poisonous, while the ripe blue or black-fruited elderberries are edible and safe.

Edible Plants | Elderberry