There are approximately 150 species of elderberry worldwide, with berries ranging in colour from black to red, blue, and even translucent white.
The elderflower comes from Sambucus nigra, or black elder, a shrub of the Adoxaceae family, widely found in Europe. Known since the Bronze Age, its name derives from the Greek sambûke, referring to a flute made from its hollow wood. The black elder can reach 4 to 5 metres in height, or even more, and lives between 30 and 100 years. It grows rapidly in fertile, cool soils, preferring partial shade. The elderberry’s bark changes from light green to cracked grey as it ages. Its compound, opposite leaves measure about 30cm. Flowering occurs from May to June, producing corymbs of highly fragrant, cream-white flowers that are nectar-bearing. In summer, the flowers give way to clusters of berries that are initially red and later turn purplish-black, which are enjoyed by birds. The black elderberry is found up to 1,600m in elevation, in hedgerows, woods, wastelands, or near homes. It is nicknamed the "house pharmacist" or "fairy tree" and is the subject of many legends, as evidenced by a tale by Andersen. This tree is important for biodiversity: it provides shelter for birds, attracts bees and butterflies, and sometimes hosts the Judas’s ear fungus. Elderflowers are renowned for their medicinal properties and unique fragrance, and are often used in herbal teas, syrups, or jams.
