Sambucus ebulus - Dwarf Elder

Family:	Caprifoliaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1.2
Width:	1
Synonyms:
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from the Netherlands south and east to the Mediterranean and Himalayas.

Sambucus ebulus (Dwarf Elder) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1.2m and a width of 1m . It has a fast growth rate. It has a hardness rating of 5.
Dwarf Elder will flower in January to February. the seeds ripen from February to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles, self

Soil Information

Dwarf Elder will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Dwarf Elder prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Dwarf Elder can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Waste ground, woods, hedgerows and scrub. especially on calcareous soils[7, 13].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge
• Can spread to cover ground and will out compete weeds
• Will grow in a hedge row

Cultivation Details

Tolerates most soils, including chalk[200], but prefers a moist loamy soil[11, 200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates some shade but is best in a sunny position[1]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution and coastal situations[200]. A very invasive plant, sending up new shoots a metre or more away[K]. It can be used for naturalising in the rougher parts of the garden[233], growing well on rough banks etc[1]. The whole plant, when bruised, emits a most unpleasant fur-like smell[245]. The bark, in particular, smells like stale perspiration[245].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
Fruit - cooked. It is used as a flavouring in soups etc[177]. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter and is borne in large clusters[200]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Leaves are used as a tea substitute[105, 177]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

• Fruit -
• Tea - the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
The leaves are antiphlogistic, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant and laxative[4, 7, 9, 13, 21, 240]. The fruit is also sometimes used, but it is less active than the leaves[4]. The herb is commonly used in the treatment of liver and kidney complaints[4]. When bruised and laid on boils and scalds, they have a healing effect[4]. They can be made into a poultice for treating swellings and contusions[4]. The leaves are harvested in the summer and can be dried for later use[7]. The root is diaphoretic, mildly diuretic and a drastic purgative[4, 7, 9]. Dried, then powdered and made into a tea, it is considered to be one of the best remedies for dropsy[4, 240]. It should only be used with expert supervision because it can cause nausea and vertigo[9]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh berries or the bark[9]. It is used in the treatment of dropsy[9].

• Antiphlogistic - Reduces inflammation.
• Cholagogue - Increases the flow of bile and its discharge from the body.
• Diaphoretic - Induces perspiration.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Expectorant - Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
• Homeopathy - A plant used in homeopathic treatments.
• Poultice - A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.
• Purgative - A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame, when it should germinate in early spring. Stored seed can be sown in the spring in a cold frame but will probably germinate better if it is given 2 months warm followed by 2 months cold stratification first[78, 98, 113]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If good growth is made, the young plants can be placed in their permanent positions during the early summer. Otherwise, either put them in a sheltered nursery bed, or keep them in their pots in a sheltered position and plant them out in spring of the following year. Division of suckers in spring or autumn. Very easy.

Scented parts of the plants

Plant : Crushed

Known Hazards

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, the leaves and stems of some, if not all, members of this genus are poisonous[9, 76]. The fruit of this species has been known to cause stomach upsets to some people. Any toxin the fruit might contain is liable to be of very low toxicity and is destroyed when the fruit is cooked[65, 76].

Other Uses

A blue dye and an ink are obtained from the fruit[13, 46, 61, 115]. The root juice is used to dye hair black[4]. The leaves are said to repel mice and moles[4, 115]. Plants make a dense ground cover when spaced about 1 metre apart each way[208]. They are best used in large areas, roadsides etc[208]. Our experience to date (1995) is that the plants spread vigorously but do not form a dense cover and so do not exclude other plants[K].

• Dye - Plants that provide dyes.
• Ground cover - Usually low growing plants that can be grown with other plants, especially shrubs and trees, to prevent the growth of weeds.
• Hair - Plants used as hair shampoos, tonics, to treat balding etc.
• Ink - Plants that can be used as an ink.
• Repellent - Plants that are said to deter but not necessarily kill various mammals, birds, insects etc.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

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