Milan, Illinois. I usually put a lot of effort into creating a landscape that I like, but occasionally a plant that is beautiful, easy to establish and maintain without being overly aggressive, and provides food for wildlife appears. For my family, the black elderberry is one of those plants.
Recognition
Sambucus nigra canadensis, commonly known as the black or common elderberry, is a visually pleasing shrub that thrives in a variety of site circumstances. Sambucus nigra canadensis grows on the edges of woodlands, the back slopes of roadside ditches, unmanaged windbreaks, and other wild areas in our communities. It can withstand disturbed situations in full to partial sun.
The deciduous, multi-stemmed black elderberry shrub can grow anywhere from four to twelve feet in height and spread. Mature wood darkens to a deep gray, whereas young bark is light grayish brown with yellow undertones. Lenticels, tiny pore structures that promote gas exchange, are present in both new and old wood and grow more noticeable with time.
Simple, pinnately compound leaves are placed in an opposing pattern on the stem and have five to nine leaflets. The elongated, lanceolate-shaped leaflets have serrated leaf edges. According to some authors, the leaves resemble those of ash (Fraxinus spp.) or walnut (Juglans spp.). Up to twelve inches of length and almost the same width are possible for leaves.
Large umbel flowers appear on the tips of stalks in the early summer. A lovely floral display, up to almost a foot in diameter, is produced by hundreds of tiny clusters of creamy-white flowers. The blooms last three to four weeks and release a fragrant, somewhat musky scent.
Later in the summer, flowers that can self-pollinate turn into dark purple to black fruit that droops. Three to five little seeds are found in each droop. Seeds, root cuttings, or dormant cuttings can all be used for propagation.
Support for wildlife
The natural wildlife ecosystem depends on elderberries for both habitat and sustenance.
Only pollen is produced by elderberry blossoms, which reduces their attractiveness to insects. The plant serves as food for a variety of bees, flies, and beetles, such as syrphid flies, honeybees, small carpenter bees, halictid bees, tumbling flower beetles, scarab beetles, and more. Carpenter bees can build their nests on the spongy pith of the stems. Because of the leaves’ poisonous qualities, mammals eat far less leaves than the various insect larvae of the aforementioned categories.
The late-summer berries are arguably the elderberry’s most important gift to the local fauna. The ripe fruit is enthusiastically devoured by both large birds (such as quail, pheasant, and turkey) and small birds (such as robin, cardinal, eastern bluebird, and cedar waxwing).
Usage by humans
Elderberries have been used for ages by indigenous people, who have used the hollow stems for tools and instruments, harvested the berries for food, and used other plant components for medical purposes. It should be mentioned that elderberry leaves, stems, and roots can be poisonous if improperly processed.
The only Sambucus nigra canadensis fruit that is deemed acceptable for human eating is the dark blue to purple variety, which needs to be treated before consumption. Ripe fruits should be cooked in order to remove any remaining toxins from fruit development.
Elderberries can be boiled and then dried whole or used to produce wine, syrup, pies, jams, and jellies, among other things. Due to their extreme perishability, elderberries are not commercially available in whole form; nonetheless, in recent years, dried elderberries and elderberry products have become more and more popular. There are goods on the market that promise a wide range of health advantages. Furthermore, more research is required even though some recent studies indicate that using elderberry products may result in quantifiable health advantages.
This week’s good growing fact is that black elderberries are found all over Illinois, but red elderberries (Sambucus racemosa), which are thought to be rare, have been found in northern Illinois. Red elderberries have brilliant red fruit and are smaller in size. It is not recommended to eat these poisonous fruits.
Bonus Good Growing Fact of the Week: Previously known as Sambucus canadensis, black elderberries are now recognized as a subspecies of the European shrub Sambucus nigra nigra.
