Elder was just one of the many plants brought by early colonists on their migration to New Zealand in the 19th century. It is quite common in the rural parts of Nelson, and around the South Island. The elder, sambucus nigra, is found naturally across almost all of Europe, western Asia and North America. Everywhere in its natural range has been steeped in myth and folklore about the supernatural, and it was commonly grown by the front door of dwellings to ward off evil spirits.

It is a deciduous small tree or shrub that does not usually grow more than about five metres, usually with many stems. The leaves are between 10cm and 30cm long and are arranged in opposite pairs. They are pinnate, with five to seven leaflets coming off in a common midrib. The large clusters of flowers appear in late November to mid December (in the Southern Hemisphere), the individual flowers are white and about 5mm in diameter. The berries are produced in drooping clusters and ripen in late autumn to a dark purplish black colour. Birds are particlarly fond of them, and are no doubt responsibe for the spread of this plant along hedgerows and roadsides. The flowers and fruit of the elder, or elderberry as they are also known, have been used to make wines and spirits, cordials, jams, chutneys and jellies.

It should be noted that apart from the flowers and ripe fruit, all parts of the plant, including the ripe seeds, contain a poisonous cyanide compound. When using the fleshy berries, the seeds must be sieved out of the mixture.

Elderflower cordial is made comercially in some countries and is basically an infusion of elderflowers in a sugar syrup. It was a very popular Victorian drink, although its origins in England can be traced back much earlier. A delicious, aromatic elderflower cordial is very simple to make at home. Elderflower heads are picked, washed, and cleaned of insects - its amazing how many shelter in the dense flowerheads - then steeped overnight in a hot, very concentrated sugar and water solution, usually with lemon juice and zest added for flavour. The flowers are then strained out and the syrup bottled, which keeps very well. The cordial is then diluted with cold water or soda water, making for a refreshing summer drink. It is said to be medicinal and useful in warding off the worst symptoms of colds and flu as a hot toddy.

Elders are very easily propogated from seed and cuttings. The ripened seed should be cleaned of its outer fleshy coat by rubbing in coarse sand. It can then be planted individually about  2cm deep in a pot filled with a mixture of loam and leaf mould. Hardwood cuttings with a heel can be inserted in open ground any time from May to July, where they strike very readily. There is also a very attractive golden leaved form which can only be propogated by cuttings if you want the plants to come true.

Sourced from Fairfax, 22 December 2009