Elder

Elder (Sambucus nigra)

Elder (Sambucus nigra) is a classic hedgerow medicine: easy to find, easy to grow, and used for centuries. Its flowers are taken for gentle seasonal support, while the dark berries are made into syrups and tinctures to nourish and protect. A simple, versatile herb for every home apothecary.

Plant family

  • Viburnaceae

Other significant  names

  • Elderflower

  • Elderberry

  • Black elder

Parts used

  • Flos (Flower)

  • Fruct (Fruit)

  • Folia (Foliage)

Typical forms of prescription

  • Tinctures

  • Syrups

  • Infusions

  • Decoctions

  • Infused oil or ointment (leaf)

    Dosage:

  • Tincture (1:2): 20–40 ml per week;

  • Dried herb: 6–12 g per day.

White clusters of small flowers on a tree with green leaves and blurred background.

Elder (Sambucus nigra) - Clinical Snapshot

Primary Actions

  • Antiviral

  • Diaphoretic

  • Diuretic

  • Anti-inflammatory

  • Anti-catarrhal

  • Anti-allergy

  • Laxative (berries, mildly)

  • Emetic (unprocessed parts)

  • Expectorant

  • Alterative

  • Emmenagogue (bark and leaves, due to strong laxative effect)

  • Peripheral vasodilator

Primary Indications

  • Colds and flu

  • Other upper respiratory tract infections (especially viral)

  • Low immune system support

  • Cystitis

  • Prostatitis

  • Constipation (berries)

  • Rheumatism

⚠️ Cautions / Safety⚠️

  • Berries are toxic when eaten raw (due to cyanogenic glycosides potential cyanide release)

  • Caution during pregnancy

The Herbal Glossary

Sambucus nigra

Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

    • Includes: Rutin, quercetin, kaempferol

    • Action: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, diaphoretic
      Use: Flavonoids are central to elderflower’s ability to support immunity and clear upper respiratory infections. They help reduce inflammation, stabilise capillaries, and provide antiviral effects, particularly in the early stages of colds and flu. Rutin also supports vascular integrity, making elderflower useful in conditions involving sinus or skin congestion.

    • Action: Demulcent, anti-inflammatory

    • Use: This soothing component provides a gentle protective layer over irritated tissues, making elderflower especially useful for dry, scratchy throats or inflamed mucosa, particularly when paired with herbs like marshmallow root or liquorice.

    • Includes: Linalool, geraniol, eugenol

    • Action: Diaphoretic, mild antimicrobial
      Use: Elderflower's aromatic oils encourage sweating, helping to break fevers and clear heat from the body. Though present in small amounts, they contribute to the pleasant fragrance and respiratory soothing effects of elderflower tea.

    • Includes: Caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid

    • Action: Antioxidant, antimicrobial
      Use: These compounds enhance resistance to infection and help combat free radical damage. They add to the herb’s mild antimicrobial action, supporting its traditional use in feverish colds, especially when taken as a hot infusion.

    • Action: Anti-inflammatory

    • Use: Elderflower's triterpenes further support its anti-inflammatory and tissue-soothing actions, reinforcing its role in managing catarrh, allergies, and mild respiratory congestion.

More Chemical Constituents
Cluster of black elderberries hanging from a branch with green leaves in the background.

Traditional use

Bark is a potent purgative. Hot flowers/berry infusions are used for fevers, colds, and diaphoretic properties. Blochwich (1677), in Anatomy of the Elder (1677), recorded that patients drink the hot fruit rob and go to bed to ‘sweat it out’. 

Clinical Description

The flowers, especially the berries, are rich in flavonoids that produce antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects. Herbalists value it as a top antiviral for cold and flu-related viruses. The flowers are also widely used in infusions to treat allergic rhinitis and hay fever, and are safe for children. The flower’s high quercetin content is theorised to help produce an antihistamine effect.

Cultivation/Harvesting

Common wild plant.

Cluster of ripe dark purple elderberries hanging from a branch surrounded by green leaves.

Key Botanical Features of Elder (Sambucus nigra)

Growth

  • Type: Deciduous shrub or small tree.

  • Size: Typically 3–6 meters (10–20 feet) tall, but can occasionally grow larger.

  • Stem: The stems are hollow and have a greyish-brown bark with a slightly rough texture. The plant often has an arching, spreading habit.

Leaves

  • Type: Opposite, compound.

  • Shape: Each leaf is pinnately compound (feather-like) with 5–9 ovate (oval-shaped) leaflets.

  • Size: Each leaflet is typically 5–10 cm (2–4 inches) long, with a total leaf length of about 20–30 cm (8–12 inches).

  • Texture: Leaves have a rough texture on the upper side, while the underside is typically lighter and may have fine hairs.

  • Colour: Dark green above, pale and slightly hairy underneath.

Flowers

  • Type: Small, white or cream-colored, clustered in large, flat-topped umbels (flower clusters).

  • Size: Each individual flower is about 5 mm (0.2 inches) across.

  • Flower Arrangement: The flowers are arranged in large clusters, creating a characteristic flat or slightly domed inflorescence.

  • Blooming Period: Late spring to early summer (typically May–June).

  • Pollination: Primarily insect-pollinated, particularly by bees and flies.

Fruits

  • Type: Small, round drupes (stone fruits) that grow in large, flat clusters.

  • Size: 5–6 mm (0.2–0.24 inches) in diameter.

  • Colour: Dark purple to black when ripe.

  • Edibility: The berries are toxic when raw due to cyanogenic glycosides (which can release cyanide when consumed in large quantities). However, the berries are commonly used in cooked forms (jams, syrups, or teas).

  • Taste: Tart when raw, sweet when cooked.

Roots

  • Type: Shallow and fibrous.

  • Function: Helps anchor the plant in the soil and provides stability.

Habitat & Growth Conditions

  • Climate: Prefers temperate regions and grows well in moist, well-drained soils.

  • Soil tolerates various soil types but prefers moist, fertile soils.

  • Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade tends to grow best in sunny areas.

  • Distribution: Native to Europe, but it has also spread to North America, and can be found in woodland edges, hedgerows, and disturbed areas.

Sustainability/Conservation

Silhouette of a plant with small round berries against a colorful sunset sky.
White flower cluster with small blossoms and buds, surrounded by dark green leaves against a black background.
Close-up of a cluster of purple berries on a vine with green leaves and sunlight filtering through.
A cluster of dark purple berries on a plant with green, serrated leaves against a soft-focus outdoor background.
A tree with white flowering clusters against a gray sky, with other foliage around.
A butterfly with orange, black, and white patterned wings resting on small white flowers surrounded by green leaves.

Sources

Bartram, T. (1998). Bartram’s encyclopedia of herbal medicine. Constable.

Fisher, C. (2018). Materia medica of western herbs (Rev. ed.). Aeon Books.

Hedley, C., & Shaw, N. (2020). A herbal book of making and taking. Aeon Books.

Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical herbalism: The science and practice of herbal medicine. Healing Arts Press.

McIntyre, A. (2019). The complete herbal tutor (Revised & expanded ed.). Aeon Books.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. https://powo.science.kew.org/

Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2013). Principles and practice of phytotherapy: Modern herbal medicine (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone; Elsevier.

Barnes, J., Anderson, L. A., & Phillipson, J. D. (2013). Herbal medicines (3rd ed.). Pharmaceutical Press.

Benzie, I. F. F., & Wachtel-Galor, S. (Eds.). (2011). Herbal medicine: Biomolecular and clinical aspects (2nd ed.). CRC Press; Taylor & Francis.

Evans, W. C. (2009). Trease and Evans’ pharmacognosy (16th ed.). Elsevier.

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Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified medical herbalist before using herbs, especially during pregnancy, when trying to conceive, while breastfeeding, for medical conditions, or with children.
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