Sambucus nigra

Scientific name: Sambucus nigra

Family: ADOXACEAE

Common names: “black elder” “common elder” “European elder” “acte” “arn tree” “boon tree” “boor tree” “pipe tree”

Plant Type: Deciduous shrub or small tree

Conditions:

Zone: 4-7

Light: Full sun – part shade

Exposure: Sheltered

Soil: Average

Moisture: Best with regular water but tolerant of less, drought tolerant + handles wet

Aesthetic:

Plant Size: H 20′ W 6-15′

Leaf and Stem shape: Pinnate leaves turning pale yellow in autumn

Flower: flat sprays of fragrant cream flowers in early summer followed by small black berries

Pruning: Prune to shape + size, can be arborized from an early age, can be coppiced, handles hard pruning

Maintenance: Low

Landscape use: Good in hedgerows , summer screens

Propagate: By cuttings

Pests & Disease: None in Victoria

*Deer resistant

Comments: Edible berries but they require cooking, because the raw berries contain a cyanide-like chemical, Sambucus nigra spp canadensis is best known for its culinary and medicinal uses

Cultivars: ~AGM winners include: S. n. f. porphyrophylla ‘Eve’ , S. n. f. laciniata , S. n. f. porphyrophylla ‘Gerda’