Common Elder
Sambucus nigra · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Native
Plant Family
Adoxaceae
Tree Category
Flowering, Fruit, Forest/Hedgerow Shrub-Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Standard species (wild-type)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8; UK/Ireland H6 (hardy down to -20°C).
About This Tree
A fast-growing, deciduous small tree or large shrub with a somewhat irregular, spreading, and often multi-stemmed habit. It features a pithy, corky bark and large, flat-topped flower heads. At maturity, it often develops a characteristic leaning or 'gnarled' appearance.
Leaf Characteristics
Pinnately compound leaves, typically featuring 5 to 7 leaflets. Leaflets are ovate with serrated (toothed) margins, an acuminate tip, and arranged oppositely along the stem. They are dark green during the season, sometimes turning pale yellow in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Grey-brown and deeply corky or furrowed on older wood. On younger stems, the bark is smoother with prominent raised lenticels (breathing pores). The stems contain white, spongy pith.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia; highly adapted to the temperate climate of Ireland.
Growing Season
Leafs out in early spring (March); produces flat-topped clusters of cream-white flowers in late spring/early summer (May-June); fruits ripen into dark purple/black berries in late summer/autumn (August-September); dormant in winter.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to partial shade. Prefers moist, well-drained, nutrient-rich soils but is highly tolerant of various soil conditions, including heavy clay and damp ground common in Ireland.
Mature Size
Typically reaches 4 to 6 meters in height (occasionally up to 10m) with a similar spread. Known for a fast growth rate during youth and a moderate lifespan of 60 years.
Special Characteristics
High tolerance to salt spray and nitrogen-rich soils. Renowned for its aromatic edible flowers (elderflower) and cooked edible berries (elderberries). The wood was traditionally used to make whistles due to its soft pithy center. Excellent windbreak/hedgerow plant.
Wildlife & Ecology
Extremely high ecological value; flowers provide nectar for pollinators (hoverflies, bees), berries are a vital food source for birds (thrushes, blackcaps) and small mammals. Provides dense nesting cover for birds and is a larval host for several moth species.
Notes
East Coast of Ireland