Sambucus genus profile: A close look at 8 Elderflower varieties.

This week on The Horti-Culturalists we take a close look at eight varieties of Sambucus, or Elderflower, that form part of ONE of Stephen's National Collection. These tough, versatile, beautiful and edible plants make a fantastic statement in any garden and as you'll see in the video there is quite a range of form and foliage, including many purple leaved varieties which are incredibly useful in garden design. Stephen covers basic care and propagation, and we even learn why variegated varieties of any plant tend to be less vigorous, how to work with foliage colour in the garden and how to develop your own National Collection! Each variety of Sambucus that Stephen mentions is listed in the timestamp below along with links to the plant organisations also mentioned.
And finally, if you want to brew up your own Elderflower cordial, here's Stephen's recipe:
1 kilogram of sugar (@2.2lbs)
6 cups of water
4 lemons (washed and rind grated)
50 grams of citric acid (@1.5 oz)
30 large heads of Elderflower
Heat water and sugar in large saucepan until sugar dissolves. Cool. Slice up grated lemons and add along with rind. Add citric acid. Add elderflower heads ensuring that any insects have been shaken out. Allow to steep for 2 days. Pour liquid through muslin and transfer to sterilized bottles and seal. The cordial should last for a least a year and we are now drinking the last few bottles from last year. I quadruple the recipe when making as we enjoy it all year!
0:00 Introduction
0:12 www.planttrust.org.au/
1:07 www.plantheritage.org.uk/
3:10 Genus introduction
4:39 Culinary uses
8:06 Stephen's own variety Sambucus nigra 'Witch Hunt"
8:55 General care requirements
9:40 Sambucus nigra 'Madonna'
10:45 Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'
11:34 Sambucus nigra 'Laciniata'
12:49 Sambucus nigra 'Castledean'
13:19 Sambucus nigra 'Black Tower'
13:39 Sambucus nigra 'Black Beauty'
15:31 Sambucus canadensis 'Maxima'
You can find out more about the Golden Hop we mention in our video on it here: • How to grow Humulus lu...

[@geesgardeningclubuk5247]

Quality bit of education 👍🏼

[@thehorti-culturalists]

We aim to please. Regards Stephen

[@kateelsey1155]

Always enjoy listening to Stephen Ryan talk plants ! What a gorgeous show Thank you both x

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Glad you are enjoying our obsession. Lots of love Stephen

[@Stettafire]

TBH I'd love to see a video on all 25 ;) Though perhaps maybe just a follow up video that covers some of the others, if you'd like, in the distant future. Regardless I love elderflower and this was a lovely informative video, thank you :)

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@cbjones2212]

We have a stock standard elderflower that some obliging bird set to germinating at a very convenient position. This lovely large shrub/small tree is now shading the south west corner of our garden shed and make us very happy. I'd love to have one of the darker varieties somewhere too. Thank you also for you passion to keep diversity in the plant kingdom.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

How lucky are you? thanks for the kind words and I hope you do get a dark foliage form at some point. Regards Stephen

[@heathers9599]

Really interesting and informative. Thank you!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@orchidgarden3124]

How exciting! I have a number of cultivars I grow here in the North of the US. I love them! Another favorite native (to the US) shrub I adore is ninebark. Particularly diablo ninebark. Very similar flowers and toughness.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Glad to meet another Sambuciphile. I do agree about the ninebark and it also has a range of cultivars popping up. Regards Stephen

[@tripplem8188]

The flower looks attractive and beautiful

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@jackieedwards7672]

Another treat gentlemen. thank you so much...... I wish we could grow them in the Hills in QLD

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@besottedorchids3605]

Elderberry pie is my all-time favorite my great aunt's would make it often

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Yum!

[@besottedorchids3605]

I have finally added a bush to my garden and can't wait to bake a pie. Lol interesting fact many yrs ago when my kids were little I needed $$ for school clothes for them. A local bakery put an ad out for elderberries. They were shocked at how many buckets of cleaned elderberry I drug in. Lol pd for school clothes plus more.ahhh country life .

[@kaystandfield8953]

Pure envy. …I need!!!!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Ha! Thanks for watching!

[@donnaclusker5049]

Thank you for the great explanation of the different forms. I have an elderflower in the garden that was sold to me as ‘nigra’ and very disappointingly, although covered in large flowers has no fragrance, is very vigorous, and suckers. It’s only saving Grace is the bees love it, however it’s days are numbered. I’ll come and get one from the National collection holder when it’s gone, I want cordial!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Look forward to seeing you!

[@victoriamichalik1797]

Delighted to see all the info on the Elderflower. I added a few of the ‘Black Lace’ last year and waiting for our springtime to see how it does. It should do well here.. I also placed a Sambucus racemosa ‘SMNSRD4, Lemony Lace Elderberry for a dramatic effect. Are the racemosas a suckering group?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Fortunately the racemosa forms don’t sucker. Regards Stephen

[@melissamybubbles6139]

I'd love to see more videos with your other varieties of elderberry. Can elderberry be espaliered? Do you have specific growing advice for certain varieties besides sunlight for purple foliage?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Now don’t be greedy! perhaps one day. Regards Stephen

[@mattlloyd9054]

I really like the black lace and have grown many but they are so short lived. Why I'm not sure because the native that thrives in the woods around me lives forever.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Some cultivars don't have the robust Constitution of the wild forms so tend not to grow for as long or as well. Still lovely however. Regards Stephen

[@jeanneclark99]

Elderberry cordial--blissful memories! But be warned: The deep purple berries dye VERY well--the squeeze cloth, your clothes, your hands... The canadensis, anyway; it's native to my part of the U.S. Midwest.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching - gloves & apron on!

[@Stettafire]

Yes, you can use elderflower as a natural dye for wool. It does very well if you use a modernt. I forget what colour it produces, but I do remember it's quite pretty

[@melissamybubbles6139]

Thank you for showing several varieties. These are lovely. If I only had one bush, would it still produce fruit? Are some varieties able to be maintained to a 1.5x2.5m foundation space or a .76x1m raised bed? Have you any knowledge of the Marge or Ranch varieties? Thanks.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I grow mainly those varieties grown for ornament which almost all still fruit and are self pollinating so the only reason to plant several is to get a larger crop. They can be pruned quite hard but tend to fruit better if left to grow their natural shape and only old twiggy growth being removed. Regards Stephen.

[@sagebrush22]

I make and love Elderflower wine

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Great! Have you tried the battered flower head dish yet?

[@helendempster1580]

I have a fond childhood memory of elderflower cordial. How many flowers do you need to make the cordial? Would you get enough off one mature shrub?

[@cbjones2212]

There's a recipe in the video description :)

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Stephen's recipe calls for 30 large flower heads - so yes - a mature specimen would have that many blooms - but - you end up with a flowerless shrub!

[@helendempster1580]

@@thehorti-culturalists thanks! I appreciate you taking the time to reply ☺

[@Stettafire]

@@thehorti-culturalists Sounds like a good excuse to have two shrubs :P

[@andresamplonius315]

The only Sambucus fruit I've tried is S. peruviana, as it's the only one available here in Perú, so I have no idea about the other especies

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I haven't tried peruviana but I imagine they are similar. Regards Stephen

[@andresamplonius315]

@@thehorti-culturalists If S. canadensis is similar to the various Old Word especies then our especies from South America must be resemble its cousins. Too much acid for raw eating, good in jam or syrup.Will try fermentation next year.

[@LyndaLaluna]

Gents would these grow in pots ?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Not for any length of time as they soon become root bound. Regards Stephen

[@CrimsonGardenia]

My elderflower just won't seem to set any berries. Lovely flower heads, lots of hoverflies, beetles and bees, but only a few lonely berries which eventually withered and fell off. Any advice? I did have it in a pot for a year (yes, very root bound) so it's only been in the ground for about five months... Am I expecting too much, too soon?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Patience could well be the key. As long as you aren't in the tropics all should be well although some forms are more productive than others. Regards Stephen

[@CrimsonGardenia]

@@thehorti-culturalists Melbourne - although they does currently feel like the tropics 😆 I'll maybe just let it do it's thing this year, use flowers next year (although I did make a nice elderflower soda from Milkwood's book with a couple of flower heads this year), and then hopefully berries after that

[@sandiam7809]

Make sure you have two different varieties to choose pollinate.

[@feliciad.hutchins4507]

How about trying my alma mater at Auburn University.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

If you will fly us there! Regards Stephen

[@Kay-qt2id]

Mmm I think I need some sambucus, is this what the alcohol is made from? Sambuca

[@thehorti-culturalists]

It is apparently an ingredient. Regards Stephen

[@jenniferbrennan6004]

where do i buy these plants

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I sell them at Dicksonia rare plants Mt. Macedon if you are close enough. Regards Stephen

[@jenniferbrennan6004]

@@thehorti-culturalists I am in Sydney!I will keep looking thankyou

[@Samsgarden]

Wonder if ebulus came from me? 🤭

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Quite probably one of your weedier introductions!