3 minute read
Plant Profile
Article and photos by BRADLEY KUBECKA
Elderberry (blooming here) is common in areas with moist soil.
Elderberry flowers consist of five petals and five stamens occurring in clusters called corymbs. As I sit here writing the plant profile, I’m enjoying a special craft beer—a small batch, Berliner Weiss brewed with the fruit of American elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis). My palate assures me that I made a good selection, but I’m not the only one that enjoys the virtues of elderberry.
American elderberry, more-simply referred to as elderberry or elderflower, is a perennial woody species that is also appreciated in the natural world. American Elderberry is found in all regions of Texas except the Trans-Pecos. It grows in moist soils with partial to full sun.
As such, elderberry is typically found growing along ditches or creeks. Elderberry spreads by seed, underground rhizomes and stolons, a creeping horizontal plant stem or runner that takes root at points along its length to form new plants. The rhizomes and stolons can help hold soils along streambanks where elderberry is found. While widely distributed, elderberry is more common as you travel east in the state.
American elderberry can be identified using multiple field characteristics. Elderberry leaves are directly across from each other on the stem and are odd-pinnately compound. Oddpinnately compound leaves have an odd number of leaflets, with a single leaflet at the leaf’s terminal end.
Leaves of American elderberry are comprised of five to 11 serrated leaflets.
Spongy stem centers are indicative of elderberry.
A margined leatherwing beetle visits the corymb of an American elderberry. Extrafloral nectaries are commonly found at the juncture of elderberry leaflets.
Leaves are comprised of five to 11 leaflets which have fine serrated edges. Leaflets are about 1-2 inches wide and 2-6 inches in length. At the base of each leaflet pair, it’s common to find a pair of extrafloral nectaries, which aren’t used in pollination but do attract multiple arthropod species.
Elderberry blooms from May to June and occasionally in September. The white flowers have five petals and five stamens but are only about 1/4 inch in diameter. Large clusters of flowers form on the end of stems in a flat or convex shape, known as a corymb. Pollinators such as bees and beetles frequent the flowers for nectar and pollen, more so than moths and butterflies.
The flowers eventually develop into clusters of round fruits, which turn a dark purple when ripe. Fruits and seeds are eaten by multiple songbirds, turkey, quail, insects and mammals. Humans historically used the fruit for jellies and wine.
More recently both the flowers and fruit found their place on the craft cocktail and beer scene, being infused into liqueurs such as St. Germain’s and delectable Berliner beers. The fruits, leaves and stems have toxic properties to humans when green… excess imbibing of craft brews may have a similar effect!
Elderberry stems are grey when mature and typically smooth with occasional wart-like bumps. The stem centers are botanically described as “pithy” or spongy and were historically hollowed out to make flutes and whistles. The scientific name Sambucus is actually derived from the Greek sambuce, which describes a musical instrument.
Stems and leaves, providing 7 percent and 14 percent protein, respectively, are browsed by deer, goats and cattle. Elderberry is often limited by overgrazing and excessive browsing pressure.
A study in the Northeastern U.S. found that excluding whitetailed deer allowed Elderberry to increase by 485 percent its initial size in just one growing season; the plant grows quickly but is vulnerable to browsing pressure. Even box turtles are known to browse on Elderberry!
Despite its virtues to soil health, pollination, wildlife forage and human consumption, our plant colleague Ricky Linex would opine that elderberry could be more beneficial for wildlife…if only it were more widespread. Herd management of browsers and judicious brush control are two approaches to allow elderberry to flourish.
