An Elder Tree (Sambucus nigra or S. canadiensis) is one of the most useful trees that you can have in your garden, whatever size the garden. They grow big when left to their own devices but can be grown equally successfully in a large pot.
They’re so useful because every part of the tree is medicinal! As times have progressed, we don’t use the roots anymore – they are a premiere *purgative that will clean you out from both ends but purging has gone out of fashion. Nowadays, folks prefer a gentler action but purging used to be all the rage.
The leaves are great for minor wounds and are also a gentler laxative and the flowers are one of the best herbal remedies for colds that you’ll ever come across. The berries for which Elders are famous are full of vitamin C and antioxidants. They also contain a compound that prevents viruses from combining with human cells,making Elder trees particularly relevant in these times of pandemic. You can find out more here. Elders also have a reputation of helping plants growing around them grow better.
Propagating Elder trees
The best thing about propagating and Elder Tree from a cutting is that every branch that you take a cutting from will form two new branches. As the flowers and then the berries develop on the new growth, when you take a cutting, you are increasing the productivity of your tree.
Propagating an Elder Tree is easy! All you need is to cut some of the older, woody material, a piece about 10 cm long is best (shorter pieces will work but 10 cm is a handy, manageable size). Young, green wood will work, though the results aren’t as predictable as the brown stuff.
After you have taken your cuttings, all that you have to do is to stand them in water, damp soil or potting mix for a couple of weeks. I’ve had success just sticking cuttings straight into the ground!
You can add a tiny drop of Seasol or similar seaweed tonic to the water that you keep the cuttings in. This can give things a boost but it isn’t really necessary, the cuttings will do OK by themselves. Change the water a couple of times until the process is finished to keep things fresh and oxygenated.
When it’s ready, your cutting will start to get white lumps on it where it is below the water level in your container. These are new root buds that have been sitting dormant underneath the bark. After a few more days, you will see roots growing form these. Once these roots have formed, just transfer the rooted cutting to the place you want your Elder Tree to grow.
Give your newly planted tree a good water and maybe add a little Seasol or similar, just to give it a boost. You will possibly have flowers in the first year and berries shortly after, though I recommend picking the flower buds off before they open in that first year in order to help the young tree direct its energy to root development and leaf growth.
Note: Parts of an Elder tree contain cyanogenic glycosides which can break down to release cyanide. This is especially true of the bark. The bark, unripe berries and seeds contain small amounts of substances known as lectins, which can cause stomach problems you eat too much. Elder trees are extremely useful but should be used medicinally with caution.
I love this propagation style of yours, it makes me want to propagate most of my trees too!
I'm having success with more plants as I experiment. Many Solanums love this technique.
I had rooted one by sticking it in the ground. I dug a runner plant for a friend and she put it in the ground, but it died. Next spring, I need to root some as you described and plant and gift them.
They're super tough plants. I,ve had success sticking a 4 cm diameter branch straight into the ground!
What a great tip on cutting the flower buds to let it concentrate more on the roots! That probably works on most vegetation actually. Thanks for that.
Also, it seems purging is becoming a thing again... everyone's talking about ayahuasca these days! Not sure they would go for elder though.
Cutting flower buds works well for many plants and you can do it to encourage better (though lower amounts of )fruit too. No psychoactive properties in Elder though...
So the elder tree produces elderberries?
I've been searching for a beneficial tree to replace the decaying maple stump.
That's the source!
You could inoculate the stump with some fancy mushrooms
Always a good idea to try!
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Interesting tutorial i didnt know that was possible
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not only possible, easy too!
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