This small deciduous tree to large shrub has mutable stems that suckers from the base and forms a rounded crown. It has dark green divided leaves that turn yellow during autumn and the creamy white star-shaped flowers appear in a cluster during early summer.

Hardiness zones 4 to 10

Sambucus nigrais naturally found from Europe including Britain to west Asia and North Africa growing in scrubland or hedgerows, disturbed soils and is commonly regarded as a weed in some countries.

It prefers a well drained moderately fertile evenly moist sandy to clay soil and is pH adaptable and grows in a sunny to semi shaded position and tolerates smoke fumes and rabbit damage and is frost, salt laden wind and drought tolerant.

The European Elder is grown for its vigorous growth habit, flowers and its editable fruit. It is planted along borders as a quick screen or used in a woodland setting. It can also be trimmed to form a hedge and establishes in 2-3 years but is short lived (10-15 years). The tree is more durable where winters are cool and under ideal conditions it may attain 2 m (6ft) in growth per season. ID 45

Sambucus(săm-BEW-kus) nigra (NIG-ra)

Caprifoliaceae (cap-ree-foh-lee-AY-see-ee)