It is stunningly beautiful with white flowers and deep red fruits. The elderberry is also tough. Get to know the wild woods better here. Our plant portrait shows what the relative of the black elder can do.

A stunning silhouette

The ornamental and fruit trees add opulence to any garden. Closely related to the majestic black elder, the elder is quite similar in size. Lovely creamy white flowers in April and May, followed by bright red berries in August. Edible to humans only when cooked, the birds in the garden are the first to enjoy the rich fruit snack. The details:

  • Growth height: 300 to 400 centimeters
  • Growth width: 200 to 300 centimeters
  • robust shallow rooter in Europe and western Asia
  • bronze-colored to reddish leaf shoots that slowly turn green
  • opposite leaflets with serrate edges
  • light red drupes with poisonous seeds
  • decorative, golden-yellow autumn colour
  • valuable food for birds

The importance of the elderberry as a fruit tree is of secondary importance. The grape-shaped fruit hanging is particularly popular because of its decorative effect. The ornamental shrub brings out its optical advantages just as impressively as a solitary plant as as a hedge plant.

Location preferences are more of a side issue

The deer elder proves its stable constitution by means of frugal demands on the site conditions. It reaches its optimum in moderately dry, sunny locations. His middle name 'mountain elder' indicates the altitude tolerance up to 2300 meters. If you assign it a place in the semi-shade or shade, the frugal elder will do well with it. Only waterlogging causes problems for the versatile shrub.

Worth knowing care tips

With regard to its care, the deer elder demands little from its gardener. The following tips reflect the key aspects:

  • improve the bed soil with compost and horn shavings
  • Water the flat roots thoroughly when it is dry
  • Cut back every 1-2 years in autumn
  • Fertilize organically every 3-4 weeks during growth
  • do not use de-icing salts near it

tips and tricks

The deer elder sheds its pretty fruits at the same time as the leaves in autumn. Harvest the umbels in good time so that the birds do not lose the nutritious berries. When dried, they turn into a coveted bird seed for the sparse winter time.

Category:

Vegetable garden