In addition to the black elderberry (Sambucus nigra), other species have great horticultural potential. Apart from the different native elderberry species used as wild and bird food trees, there is also the Canadian elderberry – sometimes also known as the American elderberry. In this article, we would like to show how the Howunder® – what we call the Canadian elderberry – can enrich any assortment and any garden.
A brief excursion into botany
There are around 20 species in the elderberry (Sambucus) genus worldwide, three native to Central Europe. Besides the name ‘elderberry’, the various species are also referred to as elder or elderflower. Interestingly – and surprisingly for some – the elderberry fruits are not really ‘berries’ in the botanical sense. The fruits of the elderberry are small drupes.
Taxonomy
The taxonomic classification of the Canadian elderberry is still controversial among botanists. Some regard the Canadian elderberry as a separate species (Sambucus canadensis) – especially in the Anglo-Saxon area. Others see the Canadian elderberry as a subspecies of the black elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis). This tends to be the case in Central Europe. More recent developments even see the Canadian elderberry as a variety of the black elderberry (Sambucus nigra var. canadensis). The only certain thing is that Carl von Linné saw the Canadian elderberry as a separate species in the first description – and this first characterisation guides us. However, like our customers, we are not botanists and take the liberty of referring to the much easier-to-cultivate Canadian elderberry as Howunder®.
Origin & distribution
The original distribution area of the Canadian elderberry is in North America – from about 110 degrees longitude to the east coast of the United States. The northern distribution extends to Newfoundland and the southern distribution extends to Florida. This wide geographical distribution shows the adaptability of the Canadian elderberry varieties, which can be grown anywhere in our climate without any problems.
Flower biology – what makes the Howunder® varieties different
Even though the flowers and fruits of the Canadian elderberry are almost identical to those of the black elderberry, there are two significant differences.
Let's start with the characteristic that at first glance might seem somewhat disadvantageous. The flowers of the black elderberry are usually self-fertile. This is not the case with Canadian elderberry. It depends very much on the particular variety. There are varieties of Canadian elderberry that are self-fertile, but there are also self-sterile varieties that require another variety as a fertilisation partner in order to produce fruit. Two of our varieties – ‘Nova’ and ‘York’ – also produce fruit when they stand alone. But even the variety ‘Ranch‘, which does not produce fruit without another variety, ultimately turns its disadvantage into an advantage: it forms the largest flower panicles and can concentrate on the flowers on its own. The result is this: more and more flowers, larger flower panicles, which can also be harvested continuously for syrup and teas if desired. The wild fruit tree becomes a flowering plant, which can also be utilised and overall blooms more strongly and continuously.
And the second difference is entirely on the positive side: Howunder® varieties form flowers on this year's wood, which means that shoots, flowers and fruit are formed in the same year. The difference between black elderberry and Howunder® is comparable with summer raspberries and autumn raspberries or with the well-known pair Hydrangea macrophylla – Hydrangea paniculata (bigleaf hydrangea – panicled hydrangea). And this difference has far-reaching consequences: Howunder® varieties can be radically pruned back in the garden in the spring (to 20-100 cm and subsequently only form shrubs with heights between 150 and 250 cm. The elderberry tree becomes an easy-to-cultivate garden shrub that fits into any garden. More on this below in the chapter on garden use.
Processing, use
In addition to the fruit and nowadays also the flowers, the Canadian elderberry has been used in North America by the indigenous population – especially the Iroquois – as a remedy for toothaches.
In the home garden, Canadian elderberry can be processed and enjoyed in the same way as black elderberry. The flowers can be used to make syrups and jellies. The flowers can also be baked in batter. The fruit – if you haven't already harvested all the flowers – can be processed into juice, jelly and jam.
The only important thing and this is the same for all elderberries, is that the raw fruit should not be eaten. Just like the black elderberry, the plant parts of the Canadian elderberry also contain cyanogenic glycosides. These can have a negative effect on the human digestive tract.
Howunder® in the garden
The Howunder® garden elderberry is a real asset in the home garden. The large flower umbels are a real magnet for a variety of insects and the fruits, if not harvested, serve as a basis for birds to prepare for the winter. The Howunder® garden elderberry is much easier to care for than the native black elder.
The Howunder® garden elderberry – the new flowering and fruiting shrub for smaller gardens
As is common with fruit-bearing shrubs, the black elderberry needs a certain woody basic structure on which the flower clusters are formed. Only with this basic structure can flowers and fruit be harvested at all. If you regularly cut down a black elderberry bush each year, you will get a beautiful juvenile and vigorous shrub, but you will have nothing to harvest. The classic black elderberry only produces flowers and fruit on last year's wood.
This is exactly where the Howunder® garden elderberry comes into its own. The Howunder® garden elderberry also flowers and bears fruit reliably on this year's shoots. Howunder® plants can therefore be pruned back hard and low every year in early spring with a clear conscience – just as it suits the garden in question – without any loss of yield. This is because the Howunder® garden elderberry blooms on the newly growing shoots. And if the flowers are not immediately processed into syrup or similar, there are also fruits to harvest in late summer.
Ideally, the branches of the Howunders® should be pruned in late winter or spring to varying heights of 20 cm to 100 cm. This results in the desired strong branching and also the longest possible and continuous flowering and harvesting period.
The advantages of Howunders® at a glance
- Creeping flower umbels, usually larger than those of the black elderberry
- Fruits on the shoots growing this year
- Longer and subsequent flowering period and harvest time
- Possibility of pruning the shrubs back to 20-100 cm every year, similar to panicled hydrangeas
- Compact, bushy growth due to pruning: 150-250 cm
The Howunder® assortment from Lubera Edibles
In our Howunder® assortment, we have suitable varieties for different possibilities or types of use. From the self-sterile flowering elderberry, which is ideal if you're only after the flowers, to the self-fertile varieties that can be easily integrated into small gardens, as the plants can be pruned hard every year and still produce flowers and fruit.
Garden elderberry Howunder® ‘Ranch’
Advantages of Howunder® ‘Ranch’
- Compact plants
- Very robust
- Very rich-bearing
Short description of Howunder® ‘Ranch’
- Growth: compact, tightly upright growth, maximum height of 2 m
- Maturity/harvest: the stone fruits, which hang in panicles, ripen at the end of August; the fruits should be cooked before eating
- Fruits: large, black berries in clusters
- Flavour: aromatic and balanced, very suitable for fruit wines or jams
Garden elderberry Howunder® ‘Nova’
Advantages of Howunder® ‘Nova’
- Blooms on this year’s shoots
- Easy to grow in the garden
- Mild flavour
- Huge flower clusters
Short description of Howunder® ‘Nova’
- Growth: broad and upright growth, ‘Nova’ grows up to two metres wide and just as tall
- Maturity/harvest: the fruits ripen in stages but over a period of four weeks, starting at the end of August
- Fruits: normal-sized, black-brown fruits on very large flower umbels, the flowers and fruits can be processed like those of black elderberry
- Flavour: typical elderberry on the one hand, but also noticeably milder on the other, this applies above all to the processed berries, the flowers have a slightly less intense scent, there is no discernible difference to the native elderberry when processed
Garden elderberry Howunder® ‘York’
Advantages of Howunder® ‘York’
- Blooms on this year’s shoots
- Easy to grow in the garden
- Late ripening period
- Long harvest window
Short description of Howunder® ‘York’
- Growth: broad and upright growth, ‘York’ grows up to 2.5 m wide and 3 m tall
- Maturity/harvest: ripens from the end of August, due to the regular flowering it has ripe fruit until October
- Fruits: normal-sized, black-brown fruits on very large flower umbels, the flowers and fruits can be processed like those of black elderberry
- Flavour: typical elderberry, here the relationship to the native elderberry can be easily recognised, the flowers exude a less intense fragrance, but the syrup obtained hardly tastes any different
