White Elderberry

~ Sambucus gaudichaudiana ~

ADOXACEAE

Sambucus belongs to the genus of Elders, which carry a lot of weight within ancient medicine and folklore (for the Harry Potter fans, think Elder wood). The beauty of the Elderberry is only highlighted by its wide range of culinary uses. You can use the berries in wines, syrups and vinegars but make sure to take the very ripest of fruit, as its unripe form can be astringent and may be toxic so be extra certain you know what you’re doing. To create an Elderflower syrup with a native twist to use in drinks and cooking, replace conventional ingredients with Finger Limes, local honey and River Mint (see p. 75). The berries are yum for birds, who eat them and then disperse the seeds, and the flowers bring in native insects. Another of the Native Elderberries is S. australasica, which produces a yellow edible berry and can be found in similar environments.

WHERE TO LOOK

White Elderberry can be found mainly throughout the eastern side of the country from lutruwita (Tasmania) to Queensland, creeping ever so slightly into South Australia. It enjoys the shadier environments of cool forests, gorges and gullies, and likes to be near streams and along roadsides.

Locations → NSW: Blue Mountains National Park; Victoria: Toolangi and Black Range State Forest, Wilsons Promontory National Park, Dandenong Ranges and Great Otway National Park; Tasmania: Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area.

FEATURES

This soft green shrub grows to around 2m. Its fragrant white and waxy flowers are about 5mm long, sitting in clusters 20cm wide. Flowers are followed by sweet white fleshy fruit that are about the size of a currant. Leaves grow 10–35cm and are arranged on either side of the stem (aka pinnate), broken up by tiny leaflets.

FLOWERING SEASON

Spring and summer → Flowering in October to February followed by fruit in late summer, the plant dies down over winter and will bring new green life in spring.

PLANTING

White Elderberry readily germinates from seed and this can be collected from ripe berries each season. They usually germinate in about a month. The seeds, fruit and flowers can all be dried to use later. The plant prefers moist, well-draining soils in part or full shade. It needs regular watering during dry weather to fruit well and cuttings can be taken from new season’s growth.