Elderberry in the wild?!

Elder (Sambucus spp.) grows in the wild throughout the world! You can use iNaturalist and search for “Sambucus” to see if it occurs in your area!
Inevitably some people will raise alarms about elder’s toxicity. I think the concerns are generally far overexaggerated! Elderberry does contain some levels of cyanogenic glycosides, CNGS, (usually most in the seeds) like MANY members of the rose family. A study on American Elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) found far less CNGs in the tissue of elder that people consume (juice, skin, etc.) than many imagine. (Cyanogenic Glycoside Analysis in American Elderberry - Appenteng et. al, 2021) I’m working on a full video on this subject, so we’ll discuss more later! Nonetheless, when I eat elder, I make a syrup/jelly and I don’t include the seeds anyway.
Please also remember that “edible” does not mean RAW and it does NOT mean all parts of the plant! If someone tells you “potato is edible” it does not mean that you should run off and cook potato greens! I only ever consume the flowers or berries of elder.
If you’re after the berries, you won’t mistake elder for water hemlock, instead you could mistake it for something like Devil’s walking stick, Aralia spinosa (which we’ll do a video about this year!) If you are after the flowers (as I often am for making sparkling wine) then a beginner certainly may mistake the elder for water hemlock, so make sure that you know your distinguishing characteristics!
Be safe, be feral, keep foraging!
#foraging #elder #sambucus #elderberry #wildfruit #plantidentification #botany #nature #cicuta #waterhemlock
🌲 Hope you find the video helpful. Be Feral and Keep Foraging!
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[@FeralForaging]

Elder (Sambucus spp.) grows in the wild throughout the world! You can use iNaturalist and search for “Sambucus” to see if it occurs in your area! Inevitably some people will raise alarms about elder’s toxicity. I think the concerns are generally far overexaggerated! Elderberry does contain some levels of cyanogenic glycosides, CNGS, (usually most in the seeds) like MANY members of the rose family. A study on American Elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) found far less CNGs in the tissue of elder that people consume (juice, skin, etc.) than many imagine. (Cyanogenic Glycoside Analysis in American Elderberry - Appenteng et. al, 2021) I’m working on a full video on this subject, so we’ll discuss more later! Nonetheless, when I eat elder, I make a syrup/jelly and I don’t include the seeds anyway. Please also remember that “edible” does not mean RAW and it does NOT mean all parts of the plant! If someone tells you “potato is edible” it does not mean that you should run off and cook potato greens! I only ever consume the flowers or berries of elder. If you’re after the berries, you won’t mistake elder for water hemlock, instead you could mistake it for something like Devil’s walking stick, Aralia spinosa (which we’ll do a video about this year!) If you are after the flowers (as I often am for making sparkling wine) then a beginner certainly may mistake the elder for water hemlock, so make sure that you know your distinguishing characteristics! Be safe, be feral, keep foraging!

[@SandyFromSweden]

In Sweden, we make a kind of lemonade using Elderberry flowers, we just rinse off the flowers, cover them with boiling water, sugar and slices of lemon and some lemon juice, and then we let that sit for 2 days

[@UntamedScience]

Love this stuff. Well done. Great titles too.

[@FeralForaging]

Thanks so much! Many more on the way. :D

[@lordbingus7969]

Where im from we take the whole head of the flowers and dip it in pancake batter and fry it. Freaking delicious

[@chivebutter8794]

Damn your videos give me a throwback to going for drives with my grandad. Thank you man

[@cheyanngluck8194]

My dad used to take me elderberry picking all the time. Infact we still have elderberry jams and more in the basement.

[@Fortress500]

Went to high school with you. This is awesome to see you posting content.

[@FeralForaging]

Hey, man. I remember. And thank you!

[@NicolesNaturals]

I just harvested some elderberries I found growing near my house. I made some syrup today! You've really helped me learn a lot about foraging.

[@drivingmissmolly]

Literally just harvested a bunch of red elderberries from the PNW coast. Gonna make some jelly!

[@jonahgadoury6421]

Thanks brother!

[@camw6990]

Great information! Whats up from north east Alabama!

[@mo_philosophyw5414]

You rock brother

[@FeralForaging]

Thanks!

[@mrnm6482]

These grow on a cemetery I work out. I pick them every year to make a jam

[@NinjaKitty91_]

I used to live in Sacramento and I remember walking on the trails near the river and finding tons of elderberries. I'd pick a few handfuls to munch on while I was walking. They taste similar to Sumac

[@haroldgardiner1966]

What about the elderberries that produce ripe red berries?

[@wisemysticaltreeuser]

That's red currant

[@clintoncooper2458]

Do berries start green, then shift white to purple?

[@hanzjoshuadelatorre7256]

what is Fetid?

[@FeralForaging]

Foul smelling

[@tunguskalumberjack9987]

But, most importantly- will I smell of them, and marry a hamster?

[@kimberc813]

Your comment restored my faith in humanity! 😂😂

[@tunguskalumberjack9987]

@@kimberc813 I thank you for your kind words- have a great weekend!