Practical
Plants

Sambucus canadensis

American Elder

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Sambucus genus in the family Caprifoliaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
4 m
Spread
4 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves and stems of this species are poisonous[31][28]. The fruit has been known to cause stomach upsets to some people[27][28]. The unripe fruit contains a toxic alkaloid and cyanogenic glycosides[22]. Any toxin the fruit might contain is liable to be of very low toxicity and is destroyed when the fruit is cooked[27][28].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[12][23][24][30][21]. A bittersweet flavour, the fruits are about 5mm in diameter and are borne in large clusters[13][18]. They are at their best after being dried[26], the fresh raw fruit has a rather rank taste[2]. The fruit is normally cooked and used in pies, jams, jellies, sauces, bread etc[26][7][11]. Rich in vitamin C[11]. Some caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity. Flowers - raw or cooked. They are often covered in batter and made into fritters[3]. The flowers can be picked when unopened, pickled and then used as a flavouring in candies etc[6][18]. They can also be soaked in water to make a drink[6]. A pleasant tasting tea is made from the dried flowers[15][7][11][21]. Young shoots are said to be edible when cooked and to be used as an asparagus substitute[24][3] though, since the leaves are also said to be poisonous, this report should be viewed with some doubt.

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

American elder was widely employed as a medicinal herb by many native North American tribes who used it to treat a wide range of complaints[21]. It is still commonly used as a domestic remedy. A tea made from the inner bark and root bark is diuretic, emetic and a strong laxative[17][21]. A tea made from the root bark is used to promote labour in childbirth and in treating headaches, kidney problems and mucous congestion[15][21]. The inner bark is also applied as a poultice to cuts, sore or swollen limbs etc in order to relieve pain and swelling[17][21]. A poultice of the leaves is applied to bruises and to cuts in order to stop the bleeding[17]. An infusion of the leaf buds is strongly purgative[15]. Elder flowers are stimulant, diaphoretic and diuretic[16][21]. A warm tea of the flowers is stimulant and induces sweating, taken cold it is diuretic[15]. It is used in the treatment of fevers and infant colic[21]. An infusion of the leaves and flowers is used as an antiseptic wash for skin problems, wounds etc[15]. The fresh juice of the fruit, evaporated into a syrup, is laxative. It also makes a good ointment for treating burns when mixed with an oily base[15]. The dried fruit can be made into a tea that is useful in the treatment of cholera and diarrhoea[15]. Some caution should be exercised if using any part of the plant fresh since it can cause poisoning[15].

Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Aperient
Product or use
Birthing aid
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Stimulant

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves and inner bark of young shoots are used as an insect repellent[25][2][6][7][21], the dried flowering shoots are said to repel insects and rodents[2]. A decoction of the leaves can be used as an insecticide[14]. It is prepared by boiling 3 - 4 handfuls of leaves in a litre of water, then straining and allowing to cool before applying. Effective against many insects, it also treats various fungal infections such as leaf rot and powdery mildew[14]. A black dye is obtained from the bark[6]. When grown near a compost heap, the root activity of this plant encourages fermentation in the compost heap[9]. The stems can be easily hollowed out to be used as drains in tapping the sap from trees such as the Sugar Maples (Acer spp). the stems can also be used as whistles and flutes[6][7].

Product or use
Compost
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fungicide
Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Musical
Product or use
Repellent
Product or use
Straw

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Manitoba and Texas.
Habitat
Rich moist soils along streams and rivers, woodland margins and waste ground[19].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame, when it should germinate in early spring. Stored seed can be sown in the spring in a cold frame but will probably germinate better if it is given 2 months warm followed by 2 months cold stratification first[29][32][5]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If good growth is made, the young plants can be placed in their permanent positions during the early summer. Otherwise, either put them in a sheltered nursery bed, or keep them in their pots in a sheltered position and plant them out in spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[29]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm with a heel, late autumn in a frame or a sheltered outdoor bed[29]. Division of suckers in the dormant season.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Tolerates most soils, including chalk[13], but prefers a moist loamy soil[4][13]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates some shade but is best in a sunny position[1]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution and coastal situations[13]. A very hardy plant, when dormant it tolerates temperatures down to about -34°c[13]. The flowers have a muscatel smell[20]. A fast-growing but short-lived plant[19], it often forms thickets by means of root suckers[13]. It is occasionally cultivated for its edible fruit, there are several named varieties[11], though these have mainly been developed for their ornamental value[10]. Yields of up to 7kg of fruit per tree have been recorded[8]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[13].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences 1978-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

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  5. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

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  6. Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-292-78958-3

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  7. McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.

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  9. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

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  10. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

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  11. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  13. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  14. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩1↩2

  15. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  16. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

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  17. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3

  18. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩1↩2

  19. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2

  20. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

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  21. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  22. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

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  23. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

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  24. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  25. Mabey. R. Plants with a Purpose. Fontana 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-00-635555-2

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  26. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2

  27. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩1↩2

  28. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩1↩2↩3

  29. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  30. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

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  31. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

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  32. Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs.

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