Sambucus sieboldiana

Family: Adoxaceae

What it is like

A deciduous shrub. It grows 3-6 m high. It has many branches. The young branches are light green. The older bark is corky and ash-brown. The leaves are compound. There are 2-3 pairs of leaflets with a leaflet at the end. The leaflets are alternate and narrowly oval and tapering to the tip. There are fine teeth along the edge. The flowers are small and white and in dense groups 3 cm high and 10 cm across. The fruit are 4 mm across. They are red when ripe.

There are about 25 Sambucus species. Also put in the family Sambucaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in mountainous woods. It grows best in fertile soil with good drainage. It can grow in sun or part shade. It suits hardiness zone 6.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Japan, Korea

How it is used for food

The young leaves and buds are boiled and eaten as a vegetable The leaves are also used as a tea substitute. Caution: The seeds contain poisonous alkaloids.

Edible parts

Leaves, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from stem cuttings or seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Niwatoko, Tazu-no-ki, Sekkotsu boku

Synonyms

Sambucus racemosa ssp. sieboldiana;