the official "are these elderberries?" thread

[Amy Boyd]

Have a bush you think might be elderberries, but aren't sure? Post here and get some help!

[sandi smith]

is this an elderberry bush? I found this bush on my wooded lot in northeast ohio. it is growing wild, in june had clusters of white flowers, with yellow to pink centers and 4 petals per individual flower. now in august its getting bunches of small (1/4 inch each) bluish turquoise berries. I'd love to make eldeberry jam if this is an elderberry, when would be a good time to pick them?

[Oleeta Igar]

Hi Everyone,

Here's where I should have posted my first post. Sorry. I found these in the Lancaster, CA area and wonder if ther are in fact Elderberries. There are some also growing near my office along the street. Are there some varieties that are just ornamental and shouldn't be used? The berries are small and very haard almost like they are dried. Thanks. Looking forward to trying some recipes.

Oleeta

[Leslie Dawn Knowles]

Not Elderberries as far as I can tell. They are kind of pretty though.

Oleeta Igar said:

Hi Everyone,

Here's where I should have posted my first post. Sorry. I found these in the Lancaster, CA area and wonder if ther are in fact Elderberries. There are some also growing near my office along the street. Are there some varieties that are just ornamental and shouldn't be used? The berries are small and very haard almost like they are dried. Thanks. Looking forward to trying some recipes.

Oleeta

[Pamela Conner]

I found several bushes not far from our house of Mexican elderberries in SoCal but some of them are a little strange. The first 4 bushes or so are normal, and then the next 5 bushes are exactly the same except the berries have no color. I am sure they are elderberries but was wondering if they are jut a variety of the Mexican elderberry or some other variety that could perhaps not be safe to eat...I attached a picture of both the blue and the colorless berries - mexican elderberries have a powdery blush on them when they are ripe so they are kinda a pastel color.

[Matt Ciesinski]

We have two large bushes growing at the end of our property. Seems that it used to be at the fence line of an old farm. I read that brambles were often planted along fence lines in lieu of barbed wire or electric fences to keep livestock in because they are thorny. At first I thought they were black currants but my research proved otherwise. I tasted them mid-season and in late September and they were bitter, but less bitter late in the season. I then read that Water Hemlock looked like black currants. I also read that even a small quantity was highly toxic. I almost freaked out because I tasted them several times. Again, research proved invaluable because I was able to confirm that they were in fact Black Elderberries! Then I noticed that Elderberries are high in anti-oxidants and have many health benefits, outdoing even Blueberries! This year I was going to plant grapevines to start making my own wine. But now that I know these are elderberries, I want to prune and cultivate them to make syrup, juice, jam, and wine. Until I visited your site, I did not know that when raw they contain toxins. I tasted them again 4 days ago and am still OK, but I want to thank you for saving my life! Look forward to getting and sharing any and all information!

[Shelli Schubert]

Not elderberries. Elderberries bloom in late june and are white flowers that are all separate.

sandi smith said:

is this an elderberry bush? I found this bush on my wooded lot in northeast ohio. it is growing wild, in june had clusters of white flowers, with yellow to pink centers and 4 petals per individual flower. now in august its getting bunches of small (1/4 inch each) bluish turquoise berries. I'd love to make eldeberry jam if this is an elderberry, when would be a good time to pick them?

[Jim Tobin]

I have a few of these bushes along the bush line of our property. I was thinking they might be elderberries but I would like some reassurance. Thanks in advance. Please see attached pictures.

[Amy Boyd]

I'm not 100% positive, Jim, but I don't think those are elderberries... elderberry leaves are usually longer and thinner and slightly serrated-looking. In addition, elderberries have compund leaves, which is multiple leaves coming off of the same stem, as in this pic:

http://elderberries.ning.com/photo/img-9801/next?context=album&...

[Shelli Schubert]

They look a little like elderberries but I don't think they are. When they are ripe they should look more like this:

[Lizzie A.]

Definitely NOT elderberries. Looks like Viburnum.

[Matt Ciesinski]

My elderberries are in smaller clusters, about 2 inches across. The reddish stems seem a little suspicious, as mine are gregreen.

Shelli Schubert said:

They look a little like elderberries but I don't think they are. When they are ripe they should look more like this:

[Shelli Schubert]

I don't think they are elderberries. Elderberries are very distinct and the berries are very small. They tend to be dark purple when ripe and don't stay green very long. The clusters, when in flower, tend to look flat with all the flowers at the end.

Matt Ciesinski said:

My elderberries are in smaller clusters, about 2 inches across. The reddish stems seem a little suspicious, as mine are gregreen.

Shelli Schubert said:

They look a little like elderberries but I don't think they are. When they are ripe they should look more like this: