Grow | Harvest | Make with Elderflower
"When you settle a share of land, first plant an Elder tree, then make your home there"
T. Elder Sachs
I D E N T I F I C A T I O N
Shrub growing 9-12ft tall
Compound leaf branches
5-11 serrated leaves each with a thin point
Umbels filled with tiny florets
5 petals to each floret
Powdery, creamy, flat
Strong fragrance
G R O W
Sambucus nigra
Sambucus canadensis
Sambucus caprifoliaceae
*do not use red elder varieties
Perennial
Hardy to zone 5
Rich, moist, well drained soil
Full to part sun
Plant at the edge of the garden as a protector of homestead and livestock
Makes a lovely hedgerow or living fence
H A R V E S T
Summer
Midmorning
When most of umbel is in bloom
Use scissors to cut umbels
Remove flowers from stems to dry
Do not consume stems
A plant steeped in folklore, always provide an offering and give thanks as you harvest
"The peoples medicine chest"
M A K E
Tea: fever, colds, flu, upper respiratory, hay fever, chicken pox, measles, colic
Oil: skin eruptions, wounds, burns, itchy rashes, eczema, sprains, facial
Steam: facial, hay fever, sinusitis, yoni
Wash/Compress: tired eyes, conjunctivitis, chicken pox, measles, headaches
Gargle: sore throat, tonsillitis, mouth wounds
Flower Essence: move through chaos, trust the limbo, overwhelm, helplessness, stuck in a pattern
For educational purposes only. Not intended for medical advice. Always consult your physician.
Purchase herbs by visiting Mountain Rose Herbs!
Grow | Harvest | Make with Elderberry
"When you settle a share of land, first plant an Elder tree, then make your home there"
T. Elder Sachs
I D E N T I F I C A T I O N
Shrub growing 9-12ft tall
Compound leaf branches
5-11 serrated leaves each with a thin point
Umbels filled with creamy white 5 petaled florets
Berries form after flowers fade
G R O W
Sambucus nigra
Sambucus canadensis
Sambucus caprifoliaceae
*do not use red elder varieties for Medicinal or culinary purposes
Perennial
Hardy to zone 5
Rich, moist, well drained soil
Full to part sun
Propagate from cuttings
Plant at the edge of the garden as a protector of homestead and livestock
Makes a lovely hedgerow or living fence
H A R V E S T
Late summer to early autumn
Midmorning
When most berries on the umbel are ripe
Use scissors to cut umbels
Remove berries from stems to dry
Compost unripe berries
Do not consume stems
A plant steeped in folklore, always provide an offering and give thanks as you harvest
D R Y
Warm, dark place with good airflow
"The peoples medicine chest"
P R O P E R T I E S
Cool | Dry | Sour | Sweet
Anti-inflammatory | Antioxidant | Antiviral
Astringent | Diaphoretic
Cardio Tonic | Immune Modulator
Milk Laxative
A source of iron, Vitamins C and A and potassium
M A K E
Tea: sore throats, coughs, chest congestion, inducing sweat, shorten duration and severity of cold and flu, herpes or shingles outbreaks, joint pain, arthritis, rheumatism, gout, heart tonic, anemia, poor night vision
Oil: antioxidant, wounds, burns
For educational purposes only. Not intended for medical advice. Always consult your physician.
Folklore & Fables of Elder
"Elder is a lady's tree, burn it not or cursed you will be"
Common names: Lady Elder, Old Lady, Old Gal, Devil's Eye, Ellhorn, Tree of Doom
Old English word "aeld" meant fire which could relate to it as a fever remedy or because the wood was used as a smoking tube or tube to blow kindling.
Ruled by Venus and the sign Pisces, its element is said to be both air and water and its energy is feminine.
In floriography, or Victorian Language of Flowers, Elder signifies zealousness.
Symbolism includes:
protection
purification
wisdom
prosperity
divination
beauty
love
Elder will manifest your wishes - so be careful what you ask for and never use for selfish reasons
When harvesting Elder for the purpose of healing your body, you are offering in exchange that one's body will eventually be returned to the earth.
Elder encompasses the cycle of life as it was used as both a birth blessing and a funeral blessing for the journey ahead.
It is said you cannot be struck by lightning when standing by an Elder.
Keep a branch by the door or plant near the home or at the corner of the garden to drive away evil spirits and to protect home, land and livestock.
Elda Mor is a russian legend of a powerful wise old woman who lives in the tree to heal us if we seek, honor and respect her.
Hylde Moer / Elder Mother is a female spirit of the forest, healing to humans and a grove is a sacred place where spirits of the forest dwell within.
Elder is a doorway to the underworld or fairy realm. Sleep under one on the Summer solstice or a full moon to communicate with woodland fairies. Beware: you may be taken to another world and not necessarily be returned.
Sit by one on the Summer Solstice and you will see fairies playing music from the hollow stems as they parade by.
Elder said to protect against witches, but also to be inhabited by witches who transformed themselves into the tree to escape capture.
Elder is believed to be the wood for Christ's cross.
Steeped in all this folklore and mystical powers, Elder is an enchantment like no other!