Red Elderberry Seeds

Common Names
Red Elder, Red Elderberry, Elder, Elderflower

Botanical Name
Sambucus racemosa

Plant Family
Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)

Life Cycle
Perennial

Native Range
North America, Europe, Temperate Asia

Hardiness Zone
3-11

Habit
9-15 foot tall multi-stemmed shrub or small tree.

Sun/Soil
Moist soil, partial to full sun.

Germination/Sowing
The seeds germinate most easily when direct sown, or sown in flats outdoors, in the fall.

Growing/Care
Elder trees often require gentle pruning every two or three years after maturity to remove dead branches and prevent crowding. 

Harvesting
Red Elder flowers can be collected as they open during the month of March. The berries can be harvested when they are fully ripe in early summer.

Culinary Uses
Jams, jellies, cordials, wines, and other preserves are made out of both the berries and the flowers. The berries must be fully cooked to remove toxins.

Medicinal Uses
Red Elder flowers are antiviral and diaphoretic, and may be used interchangeable in herbal medicine with flowers of other species of Elder. 

Red Elder berries not as commonly used for medicine as the berries of Black or Blue Elders, they have similar antiviral properties but care must be taken to harvest them only when they are fully ripe and cook them thoroughly to remove toxins, otherwise tummy upset may occur.

An oil infusion can be made from the flowers, bark or leaves to help heal cuts, scrapes and burns.

Themes
Attracts Pollinators, Deer Resistant, Apothecary Garden, Low Maintenance.