Identifying Elderberries

Here in the UK our hedgerow elderberry is Sambucus nigra, 'Common Elder' the berries of which make a fine red wine, if allowed to mature for at least eighteen months! Other Sambucus verities are grown in parks and gardens, their berries can also be used for winemaking. When I first started making Elderberry wine I was advised not to use those that were growing very close together on the bunch, instead choose ones that had space in between. The same applied when choosing flowers for Elderflower wine. However, I have used both berries, tightly packed and with space between and have not noticed any difference.

Aphodius

Thanks Vince, I would have never thought of that. Maybe I should bring him/her in a few samples. My identifying skills "ya, bluish berries, with long green leaves, growing up on the hills" probably wouldn't get too far. I'll post a report on what they tell me, maybe on how the wine comes out too! Thanks again, Thad

Here's some information from

, the third reply to the original post. I did a Google search on ( elderberry Oregon ) and got lots of hits.

I couldn't resist. A native elderberry that grows wild in Oregon and Utah is the Blueberry Elder (Sambucus caerulea). I just started some this year but have gathered the fruit from the wild - they are delicious! The Blue ones are very tart; more like a huckleberry. I have been growing the Black elderberry cultivars (Sambucus canadensis and S. nigra )for 5 years. They are very bland in my alkaline soils but are growing like crazy. We have made juice and jelly from them; it is very good. I would also like to try some red elderberries although you shouldnt eat the red ones fresh. All of the elderberries are prolific growers and need a huge area or severe yearly pruning. The flowers are very fragrant and perfume the entire east side of my property in July. I haighly recomend all of them if you have room. One Green World and Raintree both carry a great varity of Elderberries. Good Luck, LJ