www.raintreenursery.com has a selection of European elders (Sambucus nigra).
I purchased the Haschberg elderberry, which Raintree says is an Austrian variety and combines "the flavor and medicinal qualities of the wild European black elder with heavy varietal production and larger fruit." For pollination I chose another Sambucus nigra--the Alleso--which is grown commercially in Germany. They cost $12.50 each and are about 3 foot tall.
The elderberry syrup made in Isreal and popular for flu is made from Sambucus NIGRA, hopefully what I ordered. In our area we have red elderberry which some sources say is poisonous. Evidently there is danger of cyanide poisoning from some varieties of raw berries and the leaves and stems of most elders.
Raintree sells one just called "European Black Elder"--and says, "Leaves are used in ointments to ease swelling". This one costs $9.50 and can be rooted by sticking a branch in the ground. Have any of you herb people used elder leaves topically?
Raintree also sells Sambucus caerulea (blue elder) advertised as good for cooking, jelly, and wine. Since my interest is mainly medicinal I wanted to be sure to have the European kind--(Sambucus nigra).
Would be interested to hear if anyone has tried making tincture from the red or blue elder varieties and if they work medicinally as well as the black (nigra).
I purchased the Haschberg elderberry, which Raintree says is an Austrian variety and combines "the flavor and medicinal qualities of the wild European black elder with heavy varietal production and larger fruit." For pollination I chose another Sambucus nigra--the Alleso--which is grown commercially in Germany. They cost $12.50 each and are about 3 foot tall.
The elderberry syrup made in Isreal and popular for flu is made from Sambucus NIGRA, hopefully what I ordered. In our area we have red elderberry which some sources say is poisonous. Evidently there is danger of cyanide poisoning from some varieties of raw berries and the leaves and stems of most elders.
Raintree sells one just called "European Black Elder"--and says, "Leaves are used in ointments to ease swelling". This one costs $9.50 and can be rooted by sticking a branch in the ground. Have any of you herb people used elder leaves topically?
Raintree also sells Sambucus caerulea (blue elder) advertised as good for cooking, jelly, and wine. Since my interest is mainly medicinal I wanted to be sure to have the European kind--(Sambucus nigra).
Would be interested to hear if anyone has tried making tincture from the red or blue elder varieties and if they work medicinally as well as the black (nigra).