Sambucus racemosa
L.
Red Elder, Red-berried elder, Alpine elder
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(c) Eric Lamb, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Eric Lamb
What to Eat
Edible parts: Flowers, Fruit
The flowers are edible raw or cooked. The fruit, about 5mm in diameter and borne in large clusters, is edible raw or cooked but has a bitter flavour. It is quite nutritious, with a relatively high fat, protein, and carbohydrate content. Drying the fruit before use reduces some of its rank taste, and the large clusters make harvesting straightforward. Some caution is advised regarding toxicity. The root can be made into a tea-like beverage.
Known Hazards
Dangerous Lookalikes
This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.
Pokeweed: Thick red/purple herbaceous stems (no bark), berries in a line (raceme), simple large leaves, large white taproot.
Red Elder: Woody bark, berries in broad flat clusters (cymes), compound leaves with 5-7 leaflets.
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant. It does best in moist, well-drained soils. It needs a protected shady position. It is frost hardy. It is sensitive to drought. It suits hardiness zones 4-9. Arboretum Tasmania.
Alaska, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, China, Europe*, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Japan, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, North America, Norway, Russia, Scandinavia, Siberia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA,
How to Identify
A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 2.5-3 m high and spreads 2.5-3 m wide. The stem is erect and branching. The bark is dark brown. The leaves are compound divided into leaflets along the stalk. There are 5-7 leaflets. The leaves are yellowish-green. There are teeth along the edge. The flowers are cream. They occur in dense flat topped clusters at the ends of the branches. The fruit are scarlet berries. They hang in clusters.
Nutrition Score: 48/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit raw | 78 | 472 | 113 | 1.1 | — | 36.7 | 1.1 | 0.5 |
| Fruit cooked | 78 | 460 | 110 | 2.9 | — | — | 1 | 0.7 |
How to Grow
Tolerates most soils, including chalk, but prefers a moist loamy soil. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates some shade but is best in a sunny position. Tolerates atmospheric pollution and coastal situations. Closely related to S. racemosa and considered part of that species by some botanists. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.
Propagation: Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in autumn in a cold frame, where it should germinate in early spring. Stored seed sown in spring will likely germinate better with 2 months warm followed by 2 months cold stratification. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle. If growth is good, young plants can go into permanent positions in early summer; otherwise, overwinter them in a sheltered nursery bed or in pots and plant out the following spring. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7–10cm with a heel, can be taken in July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood from the current season's growth, 15–20cm with a heel, can be taken in late autumn in a frame or sheltered outdoor bed.
Medicinal Uses
The bark and leaves are used as a diuretic and purgative. The blossoms have been used in the treatment of measles.
Other Uses
The stem is easily hollowed and can be used to make a whistle.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Sambucus racemosa is a species of elder known by the common names red-berried elder and red elderberry. It produces a red drupe. The species is native across much of the Northern Hemisphere. The plant is largely poisonous when raw, but the fruit can be cooked for consumption.
Notes
There are about 25 Sambucus species. They are also put in the family Caprifoliaceae. Also put in the family Sambucaceae.
Names & Synonyms
Cheren baz, Red elderberry, Rodhyll, Syoeu ridzo
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