American elderberry, Canadian elderberry
Sambucus canadensis

Family: Adoxaceae

What it is like

A medium sized shrub. It grows 1-4 m tall. It forms suckers. The branches form a wide, broad crown. The twigs have a white pith. Each stem lives for 4-6 years then dies down and is replaced by new shoots. The leaves are compound and opposite. They are like feathers. They are 15-20 cm long and have 5-11 leaflets. The flowers are in large groups 20-30 cm across. They are white. The fruit are dark purple or black berries.

Also put in the family Sambucaceae and Caprifoliaceae. Plants are rich in Vitamin C. Possibly now in the family Viburnaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in rich moist soils along streams. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Canary Is., Central America, Colombia, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Himalayas, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Laos, Maldives, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, North America (country/location of origin), Northeastern India, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, SE Asia, South America, St Lucia, Thailand, Trinidad-Tobago, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are cooked and eaten. They are also used for flavouring wines and for making drinks. They can also be dried. They are used in jams, jellies and pies. The flowers can be dipped in batter and fried. They are also used to make a hot drink. Caution: The unripe fruit and leaves contain cyanide

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, flowers

How it is grown

It can be grown by seeds, cuttings or division of roots. Two different varieties are needed for fruit to form.

Its other names

Local names

Hikan dhu, Kanike phool, Mumvumbi, Pohon elderberi kanada, Sangitan ungu, Sauco, Sufo, Sweet elder

Synonyms

Sambucus bipinnata Schltdl. & Cham.; Sambucus mexicana C. Presl ex DC.; Sambucus nigra var. canadensis (L.) B. L. Turner; Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis (L.) Bolli; Sambucus oreopola Donn. Sm.; Sambucus simpsonii Rehder; and others