What does the black and red elderberry look like, how the shrub blooms (with photo)
What an elderberry looks like, look at the photos below, and admire its unique beauty:
This typical specimen of the honeysuckle family is an extremely attractive plant fanned with unusual beliefs. Healers consider it a talisman against evil spirits, an improvised material for creating medicines. What an elderberry looks like is probably known to every summer resident, a villager and even an inhabitant of a metropolis far from gardening. There is a whole palette of varieties and species of elderberry, about 40 of them are known. The characteristic aroma of foliage scares away annoying insects(e.g. flies), rodents and other pests. Bushes are often planted in the area of cesspools and compost pits, outdoor toilets, dung heaps. In addition to the ubiquitous red and black elderberry, other varieties of this plant are cultivated, for example:
Canadian
Blue
Siberian
Herbaceous
Zimbold
How beautiful they look in all kinds of territories different types and elderberry varieties, evaluate in the photo:
Red, as well as herbaceous elderberry are inedible plants, they contain cyanoglycosides. Black elderberry, on the other hand, is known for its healing qualities. Sometimes it is not easy to distinguish the poisonous berries of the scarlet elderberry from the medicinal fruit of the black one. If you are not completely sure which plant is in front of your eyes, you should not risk it. Photos of black and red elderberries are offered below, view them in order to see important differences:
Most of the elderberry varieties are quite suitable for the Moscow region, they can be planted even in the North-West. If you provide the plant with reliable insulation for the winter, then it will not suffer from severe frosts. Ornamental varieties are cultivated for the purpose of decorating personal plots, summer cottages, gardens, park areas. Elder in landscape design very much in demand, because the deciduous mass and flowers of this plant are unusually beautiful, can have a variety of colors and shapes.
How to propagate elderberry by cuttings and in other ways
Elderberry is bred by cuttings, sowing seeds, dividing bushes or forming layering. Propagation of elderberry by cuttings is a convenient and most well-known method. Cuttings are used both lignified and young. They must necessarily contain at least 3 internodes, several top sheets... The material is harvested in June-July. Cuttings cut from an adult plant (10-12 cm) are placed in a sand-peat mixture, covered with a jar on top. That part of the stem that will come into contact with the ground, it is advisable to treat it with a root former before planting - this composition will speed up the rooting process at times. Regular watering is required. In the fall, seedlings are sent to open ground... Seeds are harvested around the end of October, sowing is carried out immediately or in spring. If the procedure is scheduled for the spring, then the seeds must be prepared appropriately:- they are pre-soaked - for 3-6 days;
- the water is changed daily;
- then the seeds are mixed with wet sand, placed in an airtight container, and refrigerated for 50-60 days.
The key features of this method of planting and grooming are shown in the photo - see them to do all the steps correctly:
How to propagate elderberry in order to achieve almost 100% survival rate of a young plant? The best option- the formation of layering, which is dropped from an adult shrub in the fall or spring. A branch of a 2-3-year-old plant is bent down, laid in a trench dug the day before. Compost is added to the bottom of the groove. The shoots are securely fixed with a bracket made of metal, they are well dripped in, leaving the top of the branch above the ground (after planting, it is cut off by 10 cm). The plant needs frequent watering, especially before it takes root. The division of the root system is performed in the fall. Large, perennial bush dug out, divide into equal sections. This will require a saw or a sharp ax. Places of cuts / cuts are coated with ash, immediately planted in prepared trenches or containers (if spring planting is planned).
How to plant an elderberry correctly
To get a strong, beautiful plant, you need to know how to plant the elderberry correctly. The shrub is not particularly picky about the soil on which it grows, however, preference should be given to loam, sod-podzolic soil with a pH of 6.0-6.5. Excessive acidity of the soil is neutralized by liming (dolomite flour is added). The plant can put up with excessive moisture and moderate shade, but it definitely cannot withstand drought - it grows poorly, loses its decorative effect, and is capable of completely dying. This must be taken into account when choosing a landing site and with further care. It is recommended to pay attention to the open, sunny, eastern site of the site. Looks very chic planted in suitable place, well-groomed elderberry bush, look at the photo:
The shrub is planted in autumn or spring, depending on the method of reproduction. In any case, the hole is dug in advance (one month before the intended landing). The depth of the pit is 0.8 m and 0.5 m is its circumference. The earth from the upper layers of the ditch is thrown in one direction, from deeper layers to the other. At the bottom of the trench, a nutritional "pillow" is placed, consisting of the following components:
- soil excavated from the surface layers;
- 7 kg of high-quality humus;
- 50 gr. phosphates;
- 30 gr. potash fertilizer.
Although the plant is unpretentious, some attention must be paid to it, otherwise the shrub will not be able to perform its decorative functions. The nature and volume of care measures depends on the season:
- Spring. In March, there is a risk that the plant will suffer from temperature changes, when the bark is very hot by the sun during the day and rapidly cools at night. To prevent damage, all forks are painted over lime mortar... If there are cracks or traumas caused by rodents on the trunk, then all such "wounds" should be washed with a solution of potassium permanganate, covered with garden varnish. On a fine, not cold day, they start pruning. Dried, unhealthy, frostbitten shoots are subject to elimination. With the help of a pruner, the crown is given a neat look. Cuts and places of cuts are treated with Nitrafen or Bordeaux liquid.
- Summer. After flowering, the elderberry is sprayed with special preparations to prevent damage from harmful insects, powdery mildew. The soil in the near-trunk area is loosened and kept moist. In frostbitten ones for winter period bushes, the growth of basal shoots is activated. They are destroyed until they "overtook" the elderberry bush itself.
- Autumn. Autumn care involves watering, harvesting, and preparing for winter. In September, medicinal berries ripen from the black elderberry, they are harvested and processed accordingly. After that, sanitary pruning is performed. When the plant sheds foliage, it is treated with fungicides, insecticides. At the end of the month, they dig up the soil around the trunk, insulate the near-trunk area with peat, humus or straw. Sometimes fertilizers are pre-applied.
- Winter. To prevent frostbite of the root, periodically pile snow around the trunks. They also make sure that the insulation mulch does not collapse.
A sufficient amount of water is needed by all types of elderberry: black, and red, and Canadian and others. It is possible to reduce the frequency of watering or even exclude them only in a rainy summer and when the near-trunk space is mulched. Mulch (compost, straw, rotted manure) slows down the rate of evaporation of moisture from the soil. In a particularly sultry season, 10 liters of water are poured under each bush, 1 time / week.
Type of black elderberry: varieties for the Moscow region, care and cultivation (with photo)
The most popular, all recognizable species is the black elderberry. Look at the photo of her varieties - they are all at proper care can perform decorative tasks:
To even better understand what the black elderberry looks like, read the description below. This is a very productive shrub or a medium-sized tree (no higher than 10 meters). Loves sunlight, but also feels good in the shade. Adult specimens have branched stems, gray bark, rather large (10-30 cm) pinnate leaves, consisting of 3-9 separate segments. Planting a black elderberry and caring for it in the future are simple. Flowers are collected in wide shield-shaped inflorescences up to 25 cm in diameter: snow-white or with a slightly yellowish tinge, less often - pale pink. To find out how the elderberry blooms, you will have to wait for spring-summer. During flowering, a characteristic aroma spreads from it, which attracts honey insects. Black-purple, glossy fruits with 2-3 seeds and scarlet pulp ripen closer to September. They contain persistent pigment agents. The berries of the black elderberry bush are sweet and sour in taste, the fruits, as well as inflorescences, contain many biologically active components. Therefore, the cultivation of black elderberry is very important for alternative medicine. Medicinal infusions with valuable properties are prepared from plant raw materials:
- anti-inflammatory;
- antiseptic;
- sedatives;
- laxatives;
- antipyretic;
- bile, diuretics.
Aurea. A lime-colored crown grows.
Luteovariegata. The leaves are initially bright yellow in color, later turn white-yellow.
Aureo-variegata. The variety is characterized by golden-variegated foliage.
Albomarginata. Leaves are spotty, bordered by a white stripe.
Argentea. Green blotches are present on white leaves.
Guincho Purple. In the spring the crown is green, in the summer it is bright purple. The flowers are pink, fade a little over time.
Black Beauty. Purple leaves, pink inflorescences with a pleasant citrus aroma will conquer every person. The purple-black berries are edible.
Rotundifolia. Slow growing bush with wide leaves. Inflorescences are openwork, not abundant.
Sampo. Valuable for industrial production variety with medium parameters of brushes, but large, appetizing fruits.
Due to its relative resistance to frost, most of the described varieties of black elderberry are also suitable for the Moscow region with its severe climate. Before using parts of a particular variety for treatment or for food, you need to consult with an experienced herbalist, phytotherapist. This is necessary in order not to confuse edible species with poisonous ones, not to harm health with incorrect dosages.
View of red elderberry: photo and description of varieties
Nana. Dwarf, compact shape. It has a nice golden crown, notches along the edges of the sheets. The flowers are green-yellow, the berries are bright scarlet.
Sutherland Gold. It differs from Nana in a more pronounced dissection of the border of the leaves. The variety is resistant to sunlight.
Elderberry is a wonderful plant that is increasingly found on the sites of domestic gardeners. It pleases with its not only truly decorative properties, but also with its mass useful qualities, which make it an excellent option for creating garden compositions.
Despite the fact that there are about 40 species of plants in the elderberry genus, not all of them are cultivated. And we will talk about the most common types and varieties below.
Cultivated plant species and their varieties
This type of elderberry, also often referred to as red, is the most common and most common.
Initially, Western Europe was considered the homeland of the plant, and it was from there that it was brought to Russia at the end of the distant 16th century. In our conditions, the elder liked it, and she perfectly naturalized here.
This type of plant has a 3-meter height and a very lush, rounded crown. It has odd-pinnate leaves of 3-7 petals, inflorescences are located mainly in the upper part of the bush, and it is bare from below. When the leaves open in spring, they have a lilac-violet hue, while the young shoots are purple-violet. Older trees have a grayish-brown bark, which shows longitudinal wrinkles. Together with the leaves, rounded yellowish-white inflorescences are formed on the shrub. Flowers contain a lot of nectar, which is why they are attractive to insects and are honey-bearing. In July, bright red fruits appear, which, however, are poisonous, but with the right approach can be used for medicinal purposes. These berries are very fond of pecking birds, unwittingly contributing to the spread of elderberries. The smell of the plant scares away pests and rodents, helps to save the garden from such unpleasant insects as aphids and caterpillars. It has been noted more than once that there are no flies and mosquitoes in rooms with elder branches.
Red elderberry has been used in culture since 1596, and at the moment several ornamental varieties are known. The most beautiful of these is Plumosa Aurea, which has golden yellow leaves. Also, the Sutherland Gold variety has golden leaves, which is even reflected in its name, but they are less dissected, the color fades in the strong sun, and therefore it is advisable to choose semi-shady areas for planting shrubs. Very powerful and a beautiful plant with split leaves is Laciniata, Spectabilis has white flowers and Flavescens boasts yellow fruits... Tenuifolia is known as a low weeping bush.
This species is very similar to the red elderberry, but it also has its own distinctive features: bristly hairs on leaves, inflorescence axes and stems. This variety grows in Siberia, in the Far East, although it is occasionally found even in the European part of Russia. In Moscow conditions, the plant reaches only three meters in height, and begins to bear fruit from the age of 2-3 years.
Elder Siebold
The homeland of this species is China, Japan and the Far East. Under natural conditions, it lives among thickets of bushes, in river valleys, while reaching eight meters in height. In Moscow, the height of the bush rarely exceeds 2.5 meters. The leaves of this species are compound, 6-20 in length and with a jagged edge.
Their color is yellowish-white, and they gather in inflorescences. Fruits are red, small in size. This species prefers warmth. Cultivated since 1907.
Kamchatka elder
This species, according to the name, is widespread in Kamchatka, mainly preferring fertile soils of deciduous forests. In natural habitat, the height of the bush is 4 m. In modern Moscow conditions, the bush survives and even reaches more than two meters in height. It has red fruits and white-cream inflorescences.
Elderberry fluffy
The native land of the variety is the eastern part of North America, in the territory of which it is found in the undergrowth of mixed and coniferous forests. Plant height reaches 4-8 meters in nature, in Moscow - 2 meters. The leaves are 5-10 centimeters long, oval-oblong in shape.
The shrub begins to bloom from the age of three with yellowish-white flowers, small in size. The fruits of the plant are bright red, fiery in color. The species has been known in culture since 1812. Has several decorative varieties such as Dissecta (with amazing deeply cut leaves); Leucocarpa (with whitish fruits); Xanthocarpa (yellow-orange fruit).
The black elderberry, which is widespread in Ukraine, Russia, Western Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, is distinguished by the greatest decorativeness and, in addition, edible fruits. This is a fairly tall shrub, 3.5 meters. Its leaves are large, pinnate, consisting of 5 petals with a little unpleasant odor... At the end of June, large white corymbose inflorescences appear. The flowers are whitish-cream in color, small in size and very fragrant.
The fruits are shiny black drupes, after ripening they can be eaten. They have a sweet and sour taste and are eaten raw and processed. It is worth remembering that the roots, leaves and bark of the plant are poisonous. Sometimes this variety does not bear fruit, but also!
Absolutely all varieties and forms of black elderberry are considered decorative. For example, the Aurea variety, which is 3 meters tall, has golden yellow leaves and begins to bloom from 6 years old.
Laciniata has a very beautiful, openwork crown, while Acutiloba has noticeably cut leaves. In the varieties Aureomarginata and Madonna, the leaves are surrounded by a golden border, which makes them even more attractive and decorative. A shrub of 1-2 meters in height with variegated leaves is the Pulverulenta cultivar. It can even be noted for an unusual marble pattern on the leaves, which are formed by small strokes and dots. Purpurea gets its name from its bright purple foliage. Guincho Purple looks especially great in autumn, when its dark purple leaves take on a fiery red color. Gerda and Black Beauty are known for their gentle pink inflorescences, as well as purple-crimson autumn leaves.
Pretty cute is dwarf variety black elderberry - Witches Broom. This bush reaches 20 centimeters in height, has dark green leaves, but there are no flowers on it.
In Holland, Denmark and Austria, special fruiting varieties have been bred - Danau, Corsair, Hamburg and Sambu, which are distinctive for their nonshattering berries. In the USA, breeders have selected a separate variety - Adam Eldercerry, the yield of which is about 7-10 kg of berries per bush.
Black elderberries are used to make jelly, juice, jelly, marshmallow, jam, mashed potatoes, syrup. It is also often used as a tint in grape juice or wine. The inflorescences of the plant are sometimes added to cookies or wine to give them a nutmeg smell. Many foods and drinks using these berries are recommended for use when cardiovascular and kidney diseases are detected.
This species is quite interesting and, remarkably, is well resistant to frost. At the same time, the variety has little difference from the black elderberry, except that it stands out in larger fruits, leaves and clusters of fruits. Historical homeland plants is North America, in which the bush develops up to 4 meters in height. In Moscow conditions, it grows up to 2-3 meters. The leaves of the Canadian elderberry consist of 7 petals. Flowers are collected in large inflorescences, reaching 25 cm in diameter. Flowering and fruiting begins at the age of 3. The fruit is black in color, has a sweet and sour taste, and is also edible after ripening in September. Often also used to make preserves or marmalades.
This species has been known since 1761 and has many decorative forms and varieties. These include Aurea with golden yellow leaves and cherry-colored fruits; Chlorocarpa with amber, golden leaves and green fruits. The following American varieties are distinguished by especially large inflorescences and yield: Adams, Maxima, Victoria, Jones, York, Kent.
Blue elder
This plant species also came from North America, but from more western regions... It is a tall shrub or small tree, sometimes reaching 15 in height. Prefers the banks of rivers and streams for growth. The leaves have 5-7 petals and are oblong-lanceolate, inflorescences are white-yellow, fruits are bluish-black. Known since 1850.
Elderberry herbaceous
This species is often found in nature in southern Russia, the Caucasus, Belarus and Ukraine. Loves the edges of forests, the banks of streams, rivers, ravines. A distinctive feature of the species is the terrestrial non-woody part of the plant, which in winter time dies off. In the suburbs, it also blooms, but the fruits almost never fully ripen. It should be borne in mind that the berries of elderberry herb are poisonous, since they contain a lot of acid.
A shrub from the Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae) - black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) - has long been known to people for its healing properties: plant fragments were found during excavations of ancient sites. WITH therapeutic purpose the bark, flowers, fruits, leaves and roots of elderberry are used. pharmachologic effect different parts of the plant differ due to the different content of active substances; only a diuretic effect is common in some kidney diseases.
Biological description
Black elder is a branched shrub with a rounded crown, from two to six meters high, the trunk is covered with light brown bark with longitudinal cracks. The shoots are green at first, with age they acquire a brownish-black color. The core of the branches is soft and white. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, unpaired-pinnate, 20 to 30 cm long, have 5-7 pointed ovate leaflets with jagged edges.
Small fragrant flowers creamy-white color collected in flat corymbose-paniculate inflorescences. The diameter of the inflorescences does not exceed 20 cm.
The fruit is a juicy purple-black drupe with 2-4 seeds inside.
Elderberry blooms from May to July, the fruits begin to ripen in August and remain on the bushes until the end of September.
The plant is widespread throughout the Caucasus, Ukraine, in the European part of Russia. Grows more often on the edges broadleaf forests, in abandoned logging areas; less often - in the undergrowth of coniferous forests.
Collecting and harvesting black elderberry
The inflorescences are cut off whole during the flowering of the shrub, until the corollas begin to crumble. Flowers are scattered on paper and dried in the air or in dryers, not exceeding a temperature of 40 degrees. After drying, the flowers are separated from the shields. Store raw materials in dry rooms for 2 years.
Elderberry bark is harvested in spring, fruits - after full ripening, leaves - during flowering shrub. The roots are dug out after the fruits are fully ripe.
When harvesting leaves, flowers and fruits, do not break off elderberry branches, as this leads to the destruction of thickets.
Chemical composition
Each part of the plant contains various biologically active substances:
- In the leaves- essential oil, carotene, resins, ascorbic acid, alkaloids sanguinarine and konyin.
- In flowers- flavonoids, ursolic and oleanolic acids, sambunigrin glycoside, essential oil, chlorogenic, malic, valeric acids, mucus, rutin.
- In fruits- sugars, citric, acetic, tartaric acids, vitamins C and A, rutin, tannins, tyrosine, dyes, traces of essential oils.
- In the bark- tannins, choline, phytosterol, pectin, organic acids.
- In the roots- tannins, bitter substances, saponins.
Medicinal properties of black elderberry
The therapeutic effect of elderberry preparations on the human body depends on the part of the plant that is used.
- Elderberry flowers have a diuretic, laxative, diaphoretic, expectorant and antifebrile effect. Medicines made from flowers regulate carbohydrate metabolism, lower blood sugar levels, and have disinfecting and astringent properties. Due to their rutin content, they reduce the permeability of the blood vessel walls.
- Leaves and bark Plants have a laxative, choleretic effect, improve metabolism and are used in the treatment of obesity. Also, their use is effective for various skin diseases, joint diseases, low hemoglobin.
- Bark is used for treatment diabetes mellitus and various renal pathologies.
- Elderberry fruit have a beneficial effect on the work of the digestive system, stimulating bile secretion and bowel movement. Also, the use of fresh berries is recommended for joint diseases and salt deposition.
Application in official medicine
In ordinary pharmacies, you can only purchase elderberry flowers (Flores Sambuci), which serve as the basis for the preparation of infusions and decoctions; the use of the rest of the plant is under the authority of traditional medicine.
Infusion of flowers Elderberries are taken for colds to lower body temperature and relieve inflammation of the respiratory tract. With tracheitis and bronchitis, the infusion has an expectorant effect. Apply it in case of deviations in work Bladder and kidney as a diuretic and anti-inflammation agent.
In gynecology, the infusion is used for douching for inflammatory diseases.
Decoction of flowers used externally for rinsing with tonsillitis, inflammation of the oral mucosa; inside - with influenza and acute respiratory infections, rheumatism, liver and kidney diseases, edema, bronchial asthma, spasms of the gastrointestinal tract.
Elderberry flowers are part of laxatives, hypoglycemic, antirheumatic and choleretic preparations, and are used to treat psoriasis.
Flower extract is part of the complex preparations Sinupret and Novo-passit. Sinupret (tablets, syrup, drops) is used to treat acute and chronic diseases of the paranasal sinuses. Novo-passit (syrup and tablets) is a sedative.
Application in traditional medicine
Traditional medicine, along with flowers, uses other parts of the elder:
- A decoction of the bark is used for inflammatory processes in respiratory tract, hemorrhoids, constipation, liver diseases, anemia, obesity, edema. Outwardly, the broth is used to treat burns, furunculosis, diaper rash, chronic skin diseases (eczema, psoriasis). Dry bark powder is sprinkled on weeping wounds.
- Eating fresh berries is beneficial for rheumatism and neuralgia. From the dried fruits, jelly is prepared, which is taken as a laxative and diuretic; they contribute to increased bile secretion. The use of berries is recommended for mastopathy, prostate adenoma, colds. Fruits are able to remove toxic substances from the body.
- The leaves are used externally in the form of applications for joint pain, diaper rash, boils. Cooked in milk, they are used to treat hemorrhoids. Inside, a decoction of elderberry leaves is taken to treat gout, rheumatism, diabetes mellitus.
- A decoction of the roots of the plant is prescribed for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and kidney disease. For skin rashes, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, take baths with a decoction of elderberry root.
Harm and contraindications
Black elderberry belongs to moderately poisonous plants: when consumed a large number drugs from any part of it, poisoning occurs, accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines.
Contraindications for use medicines from elderberry:
- Children under 12 years of age.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Diabetes insipidus.
- Ulcerative colitis and enterocolitis.
- Chronic stomach diseases.
- Individual intolerance.
An unacceptable admixture when harvesting black elderberry flowers are flowers of red elderberry and herbaceous elderberry. If you are not sure that the prepared raw materials are collected from black elderberry, it is better to refrain from treatment.
Photo of black elderberry
Application in other industries
Elderberries are used in cooking for the preparation of jelly, syrups, preserves and jams. Fruit juice and young inflorescences are added to the wine to improve its aroma.
Ripe fruits are a source of red and purple food coloring.
Elderberries are grown in parks for their decorative design... Planted near barns, it scares away rats and mice. Elderberry branches serve as protection against barn beetles.
A decoction of flowers is used to treat colds and rheumatic diseases in horses and cattle.
The juice of the fruit is used for dyeing fabrics.
Growing
Black elderberry is a sun-loving plant that grows well on moist fertile soils. Easily propagated by seeds or cuttings, it can be planted both in spring and autumn. Young plants are recommended to be watered abundantly and fed with fertilizers. Elderberry is practically not affected by pests and diseases, so its cultivation on a personal plot is not difficult.
The attitude to the black elderberry among different peoples is completely opposite. In Europe, the plant was considered sacred, it was planted in front of the house to protect it from evil spirits.
In the Slavic culture, elderberry is a dangerous tree, "planted with a devil", therefore there were many beliefs and prohibitions: it was impossible to sleep under a tree, as you would definitely get sick; you cannot break branches - it will twist your arms and legs; on the site of the dug elderberry, you can not build a house or a barn - people and livestock will get sick and die.
Due to the properties attributed to elderberry, it was widely used in conspiracies and magical rites. Water was poured under the elderberry bush, in which they bathed the sick: it was believed that this way the tree takes away all the diseases.
The healers of the Russian tsars recognized the medicinal properties of elderberry and used it not only as a medicine, but also as a basis for making jam and marmalade.
Known as Sambúcus nígra, this plant was once classified as a member of the honeysuckle family, but the elderberry genus has now been classified as a separate adoxid group and has about 40 different species. Moreover, unlike red varieties, black ones grow best in the south, where the climate is warm and the growing season is long. In the north, most forms of Sambúcus nígra will simply freeze to the very root. However, there are also quite frost-resistant varieties, however, they have green, not stiff shoots also do not withstand the cold. Black elderberry bushes or trees rarely grow taller than 7 meters, although there are also tall varieties up to 10 meters or more. In other words, this low-maintenance plant can provide shade for your garden and good decision for its landscaping.
Black elderberry berries
Sambuca leaves grow on shoots in pairs, opposite, in length they reach at different varieties from 10 to 30 centimeters. The flowers, on the other hand, are small, only 5 millimeters in diameter, bloom in large umbellate inflorescences up to 25 centimeters in diameter. Fruits are rather small rounded drupes, do not exceed 7 millimeters in diameter, usually dark blue, with a purple tint. Their flesh is juicy, slimy, the taste is sweet with sourness. Black elderberry blooms in late May, and ovaries are formed only in the second half of July. Fruiting is very extended, some drupes ripen in mid-August, most in September, and some do not ripen until the very frost, remaining green.
It is noteworthy that Sambúcus nígra mostly has edible fruits, with the exception of some ornamental varieties, which differs from the poisonous red sambuca. In addition, black elderberry is very healing, medicinal properties possess its fruits, leaves, flowers, bark and even roots. In particular, from different parts this culture is distinguished essential oils, glycosides, among which the largest share is sambunigrin. The seeds of the fruit also contain a rather fatty medicinal oil, and the leaves contain resins that have a laxative effect. And, of course, tannins are present in the bark and roots in large quantities... But, for the most part, gardeners are interested in fruits, since by healing properties Elderberry blanks are not inferior.
Based on the fact that elderberry is an excellent honey plant, it is usually grown on plots by those who keep an apiary. In this case, the wild-growing form is also suitable, especially since its frost resistance is higher than that of the bred ornamental ones, and it practically does not need care. The same can be recommended if you are interested in the harvest - the drupes of wild-growing sambuca have enough sweetness to make preservation for the winter. But if you want to decorate the landscape with beautifully flowering (and at the same time fruiting) shrubs, it is better to choose one of the ornamental varieties.
Black Lace Elderberr variety
The most popular is the Black Lace Elderberry sambuc, which translates as "Black Lace Elderberry", also known as Eva. She enjoys success with gardeners thanks to a spreading domed crown with large purple leaves. The flowers of this variety have a delicate pink color, small black drupes are formed from the ovaries, with a rather high sugar content. Elderberry Eva rarely grows above 3 meters, but this is quite enough for a shadow to form, which, however, is not dense due to some openness of the crown. The plant is thermophilic, prefers sunny areas, but develops well in the shade of other trees.
Another famous variety- Guincho Purple, rather short, growing no more than 2 meters. but small size are compensated by remarkable decorative properties. The fact is that the leaves of this plant initially have green color, but over time they become dark purple, and in the fall - red. The same metamorphosis occurs with flowers, they appear with a dark pink bud, and open with white petals with light pink tones. And, remarkably, the young shoots of this variety are also not green, but purple. But such decorative qualities appear only if the plant is planted on sunny place, in the shade of the shoots and leaves there will be only a green color.
The Pulverulent variety is very beautiful, also undersized, no more than 2 meters high, with a relatively lush crown up to 1.5 meters in diameter. Its peculiarity is that large leaves of a dark green color are covered with numerous white spots and stripes. The flowers are ordinary, white, and appear rather late, only in June. Drupes are edible. Another popular variety is Marginata. The bushes grow up to 3 meters, providing the garden with quite thick shade, and light green leaves with a cream border will decorate any. All of these varieties have an average frost resistance, that is, unripe shoots die in winter, and the bush subsequently needs to be pruned. However, they do not require special care and quickly recover, growing back in the next season.
The most common method is by cuttings or ready-made seedlings with an already formed root system. The difference is that in the first case, you have to place the planting material in the ground and grow a seedling from it, which can also simply be purchased at the nursery. Of course, before making a purchase, you need to thoroughly find out which variety you are offered, and what is its winter hardiness, especially if you plan to plant black elderberry in the middle lane. And it should be remembered that a seedling is young tree at least 1 year old, while the cutting is a shoot with an immature root system, which can be either stiff or green.
Black elderberry stalk for propagation
Elderberry seeds can be propagated by extracting them from the fruit or purchased from the same nursery. In the first case, provided that you know what kind of drupes will become a source of planting material, you will grow what you want to see in your garden. The second option is justified only if you buy the planting material from a proven nursery, about which you have heard positive reviews. Otherwise, you can run into an unscrupulous seller and buy a completely different variety, and not the one that you would like to plant on the site (or even wild seeds). Flaw this method reproduction is that the germination of seeds depends on the conditions in which they are planted. It is best to prepare the seedlings in a greenhouse where the microclimate does not change all year round.
It should be remembered that only seeds from ripe, fully ripe fruits have the greatest vitality; they will not sprout in green and immature fruits. In addition, the seeds extracted from the fruit very quickly lose their ability to germinate.
Finally, pretty original version- reproduction by layering. It is possible only when an elderberry is already growing on your site, and you want to get a few more bushes. To do this, it is enough just to bend the lower young shoots and dig them in the middle part, burying them into the ground by about 15 centimeters. For this, grooves are dug where the compost is placed. After a year, these shoots form their own roots, but it is necessary to cut the main branches to about a third so that all the nutrients from the mother tree are transferred to the layers until they develop, this is almost all the care. In the future, the separation of young plants from the main bush simply takes place by cutting off the branches closer to the newly formed trunk. It is better to transplant the elderberry obtained in this way to a new place.
The basic rule when planting cuttings or seedlings is that the root collar should be above the ground, that is, the plant is immersed in the ground along the stem. Despite the fact that the elderberry is quite unpretentious, the soil for its rooting must be fertile, saturated with organic matter. If you have light soils on your site, for example, sandy loam or loam, be sure to add a mixture of sand, peat and humus in a ratio of 1: 1: 2 to the hole, the depth of which should not exceed 0.5 meters. You can also add 2 parts of sod land if the sand content in the soil is too high. In this way, predominantly seedlings are planted in open ground, the cuttings are rooted most often in containers, using the same soil mixture, and only later transplanted.
Planting elderberry cuttings
If you want to sow seeds, you need quality planting material, which is taken around the end of October from fully ripe fruits. For simplicity, you can plant them in the ground immediately, in the same month, by making holes about 2.5 centimeters deep in 0.2 meter increments, and it is advisable to cover the bed with a dark film, making a greenhouse for the winter. In the event that you want to start sowing in the spring, the seeds must be stratified so that they do not lose their viability. The technology is simple: for 6 days, they are soaked in warm, daily changing water, after which, after mixing with coarse sand, we put the seeds in the refrigerator for 2 months, packing them hermetically. After this period, we plant it for seedlings.
Taking care of the growing elderberry bushes is quite simple. First of all, the place should be chosen so that sunlight falls on the plot for most of the daylight hours. In addition, protection from the wind on the north side is imperative. Keep in mind that the smell of sambuca is rather unpleasant, but it perfectly drives away flies and garden pests which makes this plant especially valuable for gardeners.
In other words, it is not worth placing a bush in front of the windows, but along the garden or near the paths, the planting will be optimal. Care also includes the annual supply of elderberry with organic fertilizers, which are best served to the roots in the form of a mullein solution in a proportion of 1 kilogram per 10 liters for each bush. For the winter, it is better to bend the branches of the plant to the ground and cover with potato tops, straw or burlap.
Elderberry is a useful plant of the Adox family of the class of dicotyledonous plants. Back in the 70s of the 20th century, this shrub was attributed to the honeysuckle family, but in 2003 the APG II classification was published, where the elderberry genera, like the viburnum, were assigned to the Adoksov family.
Genus Elder (Sambucus) includes four dozen species different plants... Found in temperate climatic zones Europe and Asia, North Africa, Australia. It is found everywhere in Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, in the south-east of Russia. It grows most often as a middle layer of vegetation in deciduous and coniferous forests, on forest edges, along roads; it grows rapidly, forming dense thickets. Elderberry has been known to mankind for many centuries, mention of it is found in the writings of Pliny (1st century AD).
Elderberry description
Black elderberry in landscape design photo What does a black elderberry look like
Elder, most often a bush or short tree, is 2 to 10 m tall. There are also herbaceous plants in the genus, for example, "herbaceous elderberry". However, we will pay more attention to the black elderberry, as the most demanded representative of the elderberry genus.
Black elderberry is a perennial woody plant. The branches are thick, thin. Young stems are green in color, but as they mature, they acquire a characteristic gray color, covered with small "scales". The leaves consist of an unpaired number of long serrated leaves, the total length of the leaf can be up to 30 cm.
Elderberry blooms in late May. Large, more than 20 cm in diameter, flat buds of inflorescences consist of white or light beige flowers of 0.8 cm. The aroma of elderberry blossoms is strong, slightly suffocating near. At the end of summer, the fruits ripen - a cluster of black berries with seeds. The berries themselves are small, less than a centimeter. Inside - reddish flesh.
Elder fast growing plant, and even very useful, so here attention will be paid not only to its planting, care and formation, but also to its useful properties, as well as situations when it can be dangerous.
How and when to plant elderberry
It is better to place elderberry on the northern or eastern sides of the site. Take into account that young branches have a very pungent, specific odor that repels insects, so elderberries are not planted near houses, but placed near toilets, sheds, compost pits. If you want to plant near the terrace, where people are from time to time, then the absence of mosquitoes will be a pleasant bonus. In general, the plant is not particularly demanding, but a thick shade or very acidic soil will adversely affect its development.
An experienced gardener knows to alkalize the soil wisely, and for elderberries - a couple of years before planting the plants. And we suggest for beginners: liming the soil is carried out by adding dolomite flour to it (today the most popular remedy for soil acidification). The optimum pH for elderberry is 6-6.5.
When planting this shrub, give preference to one- or two-year-old seedlings, choose a bright place for it and, as usual, plant it in spring or autumn.
For planting, prepare the pit in advance, you will also need:
- humus - a bucket;
- phosphates - 50 g;
- potash fertilizers - 30g.
In the pit (depth 80 cm, width 50 cm) we fill in a mixture of the listed components and the upper, fertile layer of earth (this must be taken care of during the digging of the pit). We use about two-thirds and leave it to rest for a month. Already during planting of the seedling, we loosen the mixture in the hole, deepen the seedling, sprinkle the roots with soil mixture from the hole, and then to the end with the remaining third.
As a result, the root collar of the tree should be several centimeters above the level of the plot, however, after tamping and watering (a bucket or one and a half), the seedling will sag and will be at the same level with the rest of the soil.
Most often, a cultivated elderberry is grown as a bush, and if someone wants to grow it with a tree, then it is necessary to think about a support and, during planting, dig in the appropriate column, and then tie a seedling to it.
Seasonal elderberry care
Spring
Overwintered trees are freed from the insulating material near the trunks, from leaves and other debris accumulated in the holes. If the winter was snowless, and the spring is dry, then spring watering should be carried out.
Take a close look at the bush. If there is damage from rodents or bad weather, then treat them with a solution of potassium permanganate and seal with garden varnish. As soon as the bright spring sun appears, there is a chance for the tree to get burned, because the bark of the tree heats up during the day, and at night it cools down a lot, up to frost. Such differences are clearly not good for the tree. To prevent damage, the trees should be whitewashed with lime, thick enough to leave a noticeable layer on the bark.
- Prune the elderberry prior to saping. The bush lends itself well to shaping. By nature, the shape of the bush is oval, not spreading, if you wish, you can leave this shape or shape it to your taste.
- In the spring, it is necessary to remove dried and frozen branches, remove the stems directed inside the bush, it is advisable to get rid of somewhere about a quarter of the old branches.
- Be sure to cut the root growth. After that, glue the cuts with garden pitch, and treat the bush with Bordeaux liquid or Nitrofen, prophylactically against pests that managed to overwinter in the bark or in the foliage near the bush.
Summer
Elderberry grows very quickly, especially if favorable conditions are created for it:
- timely watering;
- pest and disease control;
- loosening the soil around the trunk;
- mulching the trunk circle;
- additional food.
After the flowering period, it is necessary to spray against pests and diseases. Again, carefully remove the root shoots, otherwise, you miss a little, and it will overtake the main bush or, even worse, begin to creep over the site. To prevent such expansion, you can fence root system elderberry, having dug in to a depth of half a meter some obstacle, for example, a piece of slate.
The end of summer can bring the first harvest of berries. A rainy summer can bring re-growth of shoots. What with that, what with the other, we know what to do.
Autumn
Autumn is the time to harvest and prepare for winter.
We harvest, cook jam, jam, dry berries. We prepare the bush itself for wintering:
- we carry out "sanitary" pruning (end of September);
- we dig up the planting holes, apply fertilizers, mulch the soil (end of September);
- if you plan to plant elderberry in the fall, then the last week September will do for digging a hole;
- if the autumn is dry, then it is necessary to water the bush well before winter;
- treatment of plants from wintering pests (October);
- whitewashing with slaked lime (October).
Let's talk in more detail about elderberry processing. If there are no visible pests or diseases, then preventive treatment twice a year is still required. You can use the following drugs:
- Bordeaux liquid;
- Nitrofen (3% solution);
- copper sulfate (1% solution);
- urea (7% solution) - relevant in the spring, because it will also be a nitrogen fertilizer.
The time of the first procedure - early spring, before the beginning of the growing season, and the second - in autumn, after leaf fall.
The elder will only ask for watering in a very dry summer.
then you have to pour up to two buckets under the bush per week. If it is summer with a normal level of precipitation, and you also mulched the near-trunk circle, then sometimes it will be quite enough to loosen the soil under the bush, weed out the weeds. For young seedlings, of course, more scrupulous care is needed - both watering and loosening, but this is temporary until the elderberry grows stronger.
If the soil is fertile, and even under a bush there is mulch made from compost or rotted manure, then the elder does not need feeding. On poorer soils, it will not be superfluous nitrogen fertilizers... Popular organic fertilizers: slurry, chicken droppings. Complex mineral fertilizers... Fertilizers are applied in the spring.
- The maintenance of the garden and front garden includes the obligatory pruning of trees and shrubs.
- When planting an elderberry, its shoots are shortened to 10 cm by a strong outer bud.
- The same procedure is carried out every three years to rejuvenate the bush, called stump pruning.
- Spring pruning rules are described above.
- Autumn pruning aims to remove branches damaged by wind or harvesting.
Note that elderberry is used in park culture, as a hedge plant, so it easily tolerates pruning, allows you to create various forms.
If you use elderberries, then remember that the richest in berries are 2-3-year-old branches, and after the sixth year of harvest, you should not wait on such a branch.
Elderberry propagation
There are vegetative and seed types of reproduction.
Growing elderberry seeds
It makes sense to propagate elderberry seeds only if you purchased varietal seeds in a specialized store, since seeds collected from a tree do not retain their parental characteristics and just a wild game will grow.
- Elderberry seedlings can be obtained from seeds by sowing them in February-March in containers with nutritious soil or ready-made soil mixture.
- Remember that there should be holes in the bottom of the planting container for water to drain.
- You need to plant the seeds shallowly, no more than 1-1.5 cm. The distance between the seeds is 4-5 cm, but it is better if they are planted in separate cups.
- Water and cover with foil.
- We ventilate until the emergence of shoots 1 time a day, after we remove the shelter.
- When the seedlings grow up a little, they are transplanted into larger containers using the transshipment method.
Only mature seedlings are planted in the ground in spring How to propagate black elderberry photo
It will be possible to plant plants in the ground only next year in the spring, when they are sufficiently strong. Having gained strength over the summer, they will be able to prepare for wintering.
Still, elderberry is most often propagated vegetatively:
- layering;
- cuttings;
- dividing the bush.
Reproduction by layering- a popular way because of the 100% result. We bend the young branch to the ground, having previously poured manure into the groove, we add it in dropping, leaving the end of the shoot on top. For more confidence, you can press the branch to the ground with metal hooks. At the base, we pull the shoot with wire.
- If such a procedure is done with the onset of stable heat, using a stiff shoot, then in the fall the rooted shoot can already be separated from the mother bush and transplanted to a new place.
- It is easier with green shoots, they do not need to be bandaged at the base, but they must be planted on next year when they are numb.
- Such shoots do not really need to be fixed, they are very soft, that is, they dug in and for the next season you have planting material.
How to propagate elderberry by cuttings
When grafting planting material are cut parts of a green shoot up to 25 cm long. A prerequisite is the presence of 2-3 internodes and two paired leaves. We process the lower part of the cutting with stimulants for the growth of the root system and plant it in a mixture of sand and peat at an angle. True, the best cut will be a young shoot, torn off from a branch with a "heel", because it is there that the rapid formation of roots will take place.
- It is necessary to create greenhouse conditions for the cuttings (you can cover it with a tall plastic bag, a jar or part of a five-liter plastic eggplant).
- We support high humidity the first week: we spray the air in the "greenhouse" from a finely dispersed spray gun, do not get on the leaves, as this will cause them to rot.
- If you plant cuttings in early summer, then in the fall there will already be roots and the plant can be transplanted to a permanent place.
The video will tell you about getting elderberry from cuttings, planting and leaving:
When the goal is to get it right away adult plant then you can split the elderberry bush. In the fall, dig up an elderberry, chop or saw the root to make equal parts with branches and a good rhizome. The resulting bushes must be planted immediately. This can be done in pre-prepared pits or containers for wintering, and transplanted to a permanent place in the spring. Most often this is done when redeveloping a site or flower garden.
Elderberry pests and diseases
Elderberry is not affected by any exotic diseases. Of the pests, aphids are most often annoying. Here, one treatment with karbofos is enough. You can find the elder tailed moth, elder leaf mite, or elder miner fly. Malofos or decis will also help against these insects, only it will have to be sprayed twice.
Consider popular varieties and types of elderberry with photos and descriptions
Elderberry black variety and photo
Black elderberry (Latin Sambucus nigra) - the plant to which, basically, this article is devoted, we associate with the village, simplicity, maybe someone with a grandmother in a colorful dress. This plant can use anything: flowers, leaves, bark, berries.
On the basis of this shrub, many favorite decorative forms have been bred.
Marginata - the leaves have a silvery border around the edge, the bush can be about 2.5 m in height, it develops very quickly;
Elderberry black Madonna planting and care photo Sambucus nigra ‘Madonna’
Blue elder
A fairly tall tree, often about 15 m, is an inhabitant of the floodplains and mountain slopes of North America. There is also a shrub form with thin branches and young shoots of a raspberry hue. The trunk of the tree and shrub is yellowish-beige, and the leaves have a bluish tint. The leaf is 5-7 naked long leaves 6-15 cm in length.
Flowers are small, white with a yellow or beige tint, collected in inflorescences up to 15 cm, have a characteristic aroma. In September, the fruits ripen - blue-black berries, half a centimeter in diameter. Elderberry blue has a bluish bloom on it, which makes it look really blue. Prefers warmer latitudes, as it does not differ in frost resistance.
Siberian elder
This subspecies of red elderberry is more resistant to frost, therefore it grows in Siberia, in the East, and European Russia. Favorite places are mixed or coniferous forests, highlands. Siberian elderberry is a lush shrub up to 4 m high. It is also called red elderberry for the color of its berries, which ripen, by the way, in late July - early August. Ripe berries are edible, but not popular. But unripe fruits cause abdominal cramps, nausea, cramps, headaches, and can even be fatal.
Elderberry herbaceous
This is a perennial herb with erect stems reaching a height of 1.5 m. Popularly called wild elder or smelly elderberry, for the pungent smell of flowers. In the wild, she is an inhabitant of forests, edges, floodplains, mountain slopes of Central Russia, Ukraine, Belarus. The leaves are arranged on long petioles and consist of 9-11 narrow serrated leaflets. Flowers are collected in inflorescences, erect, white or pinkish flowers.
Herb elderberry fruits are black shiny drupes, very attractive in appearance and easily accessible to children. You have to be careful, because all parts of herbaceous elderberry are poisonous (contain hydrocyanic acid). Some literature describes the use of these berries for the preparation of liqueurs and other alcoholic beverages, this is a controversial issue. Now, if you plant an elderberry currant, it will scare off harmful butterflies and a kidney mite. But there is a minus - this plant has a strong creeping stem, so it will be problematic to remove the elderberry from the currant. During the drying of the flowers, the unpleasant odor disappears and apples are poured over them for storage.
Elder canadian
The rich soils of North America are native to her. This plant fell in love with gardeners due to its wonderful decorative effect. Indeed: a large, up to 30 cm, typical for elderberry leaf, magnificent umbrellas of white inflorescences reaching 25 cm in diameter, clusters of dark burgundy fruits, which are also edible. Let's add more resistance to the climate of the middle zone.
Several decorative forms can be noted:
- maxim - differs in power;
- akutibola - on the contrary, tender, with feathery foliage;
- chlorocarp - there is a yellow tint in the foliage, and the berries are green;
- aurea - its leaves are green only in summer, and in autumn and spring they are yellow.
Elder Siebold
Eastern relative of the red elderberry. Natural halo - Japan, Kuril Islands, Far East. In Europe, a cultivated form is grown - a powerful plant (tree or bush) up to 8 m high has large leaves (20x6 cm). Inflorescences are loose, racemose, large.
Elderberry fluffy
It got its name due to the fact that young shoots are pubescent. North America is considered the homeland. Cultivated varieties - four-meter shrub. in May, the color of the inflorescences is white, sometimes with a yellow tint, sometimes with pink. Fruits - red berries with seeds - ripen in July.
It is possible to note the forms with a different color of the fruit:
- xanthocarpa - yellow-orange fruits;
- leucocarpa - white fruits.
Elderberry use and precautions
Black elderberry is a wonderful plant, every part of it can be used. And for good reason.
Here is a list of useful substances that are contained in this plant:
- in the leaves - organic acids (malic, valerian, acetic, chlorogenic, coffee), carotene (provitamin A, as in carrots), tannins (eliminate the influence of microorganisms), choline (vitamin B4), vitamin C (0.28%) and etc .;
- in flowers - essential oils, valerian, malic and caffeic acids, choline, rutin, etc.
- in berries - also carotene, malic acid, in addition - ascorbic acid, sugars, fructose and glucose, resin and dyes;
- in the bark - choline, phytosterol (cholesterol neutralizer), essential oil.
The leaves are used fresh as a compress for burns, boils, and cuts. First, the sheet must be steamed. The leaves have antipyretic, diaphoretic, diuretic, and mild laxative effects.
There is a country remedy for chronic constipation. For its preparation it is necessary to boil young shoots in honey, cool, drain and take "elderberry honey" inside.
Fresh flowers can be used to make tea with lemongrass, mint
The skin will be delighted with a tonic made from fresh elder flowers. It is prepared simply: 10 inflorescences are poured with half a liter of boiling water, insisted for a day, filtered and stored in the refrigerator.
Elderberry bark lotions or baths help with arthritis, rheumatism, gout. The decoction is recommended for skin and kidney diseases.
In the season, thrifty housewives make preparations. The most widely used are inflorescences and fruits. Flowers must be dried, carefully following the drying rules, as they are very susceptible to high humidity.
It is recommended to pick flowers on a dry, clear day after lunch ...
cut rough roots as short as possible, dry in a natural way or in an electric dryer, not exceeding a temperature of 35˚. Wipe dry raw materials through a plastic sieve, discard coarse parts, store ready dry flowers for 2, maximum 3 years. We do the same with the berry, only the shelf life of the dried berry is reduced to six months.
It is worth remembering about your preparations during the period of colds, because it is the broth that has antibacterial and diaphoretic properties. It is simple to make a decoction: at the rate of 1 tablespoon of flowers, pour a glass of boiling water and leave on low heat for a quarter of an hour. Then you need to cool, strain and drink half a glass three times a day.
A decoction of all parts of elderberry is used to regulate metabolism. Apples kept for storage are poured with dried flowers.
Elderberry has been with a person for many centuries
The Latin name for the elderberry sambucus is Sambucus. One of the versions of the origin of this name is from the name of the ancient Iranian instrument sambuza, which was made from elderberry.
Our ancestors found many uses for this plant. One of them is based on the coloring matter of the elderberry fruit. Elderberry juice was used to dye fabrics: cotton, linen, hemp and silk. It turned out to be black, and when mixed with alum, it came out blue. By fixing elderberry juice with vinegar, ink was obtained. Country girls inked their eyebrows with berry juice.
Used fruits and flowers for making drinks
For example, fresh flowers, lemon juice, zest and fermented water made a light refreshing drink. From the fermented berries they drove vodka. Also, elderberry is one of the ingredients of the famous Italian liqueur "Sambuca". The exact recipe for its preparation is kept secret, but home craftsmen offer to make the drink themselves and it contains dried black elderberry flowers.
In the villages in the spring, they enjoyed the first greens, so they made salads from various young plants, including young elderberry shoots added to the salads. If you want to experiment, so to speak, go back to basics, then keep in mind that the young shoots of elderberry have a laxative and diuretic effect.
Jam was made from black elderberry berries
The recipe is simple: a centimeter layer of berries was sprinkled with a layer of sugar, and so on several layers (for 1 kg of berries, 1 kg of sugar); let stand for a day, boil for 15 minutes and pour into sterile jars.
At a time when plants were treated with respect, the elder was even treated with reverence. It was believed that cutting down an elderberry bush that grew on its own in the courtyard was unfortunately, and before a sudden meeting with this plant, the men took off their caps. This respect is not idle.
Even Hippocrates believed that elderberry can cure dozens of diseases. And Cikkerot (a doctor of the 18th century) recommended that every housewife have dried elder flowers and jam at home in case of a cold or kidney and bladder disease.
Prepared from berries and young wine
You will need a three-liter can of juice and a glass of sugar or honey. The can is tightly sealed and gases are vented through a water lock. Fermentation is carried out in a warm place, without access to sunlight. At the end, the wine is bottled, sealed and stored horizontally in the cellar.
Already in the 21st century, the elder was again remembered. It turns out that its use has positive results in the treatment of cancer and diabetes. Vitamins of group B in berries are collected in proportions that are exclusively correct for humans.
You can talk for a long time about useful properties this plant familiar to the eye, however, there are contraindications. The most basic is the individual intolerance of the components that make up the composition. Therefore, use should be started with small doses, carefully listening to the body. You should definitely not take elderberry in one form or another for pregnant and lactating women, people with Crohn's disease, chronic diseases stomach.
The danger is most often other elderberries, such as red elderberry, the berries of which can be confused with black elderberry. There is only one recommendation: if you are not sure which plant it is, then it is better not to use it.