Elderberry And Elderflower

Elderberry trees belong to one of nine species in the genus Sambucus, which is part of the honeysuckle family. The lacy foliage and umbrella-like white flowers make them a popular choice as ornamental plants, but there's more to elderberry than fancy looks. Both the flowers and the berries have a long history of culinary and medicinal use in North America and Europe.

Geography

Elderberry trees grow throughout North America and most of Western Europe. Sambucus canadensis--the North American elderberry--grows widely from British Columbia to Nova Scotia and southward to North Carolina and Arizona. Sambucus nigra--black elderberry--grows throughout Europe, except for the extreme northern regions. Sambucus mexicana, commonly called red elderberry, grows throughout the North American continent, with a higher concentration in the warmer U.S. states. Blue elderberry, also known as Sambucus cerulea, grows on the West Coast of the United States and Canada.

Types

The common elderberry, Sambucus canadensis, is further divided into many varieties. Because it is not self-pollinating, home gardeners need to plant more than one variety in close proximity so that they can cross-pollinate. The best-known and most common varieties of the common elderberry include Adams No. 1, Adams No. 2, York, Nova, Scotia and Johns. Each of these varieties is a strong producer and is cold hardy to Zone 4. The Nova and Scotia varieties produce sweeter berries, and the Johns variety ripens later than the others.

Traditional Uses

Elderberry and elderflower both have a long history in folk medicine in Europe and in North America. Native Americans used elderflower tea as a diuretic and a laxative. European folk medicine, carried over to the New World, used elderflower tea to treat colds and fevers, and the berries to break fevers, according to Steven Foster, author of "101 Medicinal Herbs."
In Europe, most housewives made elderberry or elderflower wine or cordials. Maud Grieve's "A Modern Herbal" noted that elderflower water is astringent and a stimulant, and the base for skin creams and medicines. Grieve went on to give a recipe for elderflower water, which would, she said, keep the skin clear, white and free of blemishes.

Modern Uses

Elderflower and elderberry may have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-cancer properties, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The German government approves elderflower preparations to treat colds and flu, with some research backing those uses. In a 1993 flu outbreak in Israel, for instance, a study at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem showed that treatment with an elderberry extract shortened the duration and lessened the severity of flu symptoms.

Warning

Blue and black elderberry are edible, but red elderberry may be toxic, especially to people who have liver or kidney problems. Cooked or fermented elderberries are more easily tolerated than raw elderberries. Elderberries and elderflower preparations may also interfere with other medications, including diuretics, diabetes medications, immuno-suppressants, chemotherapy drugs, laxatives and theophylline.