One of my favorite herbs in the garden is my cutleaf elderberry (
Sambucus canadensis). I bought it at one of my favorite herb farms
Mulberry Creek Herb Farm out near Cedar Point. They describe the cutleaf elderberry as and I quote from them:
Think of this plant as an inexpensive, faster growing green "Japanese Maple" that blooms in June. Purist might pale at such a comparison, however, for "Japanese Maple" challenged gardeners, it is definitely hardier to wind and temperature. With finely cut leaves and blooms as attractive to bees as it is to fritter-lovin' folks, it is not a second rate choice.
It is a great plant for the garden. Mine is doing well even with the shade it is getting from the Chinese Chestnut tree. Hope you are having a great day wherever you may be. Talk to you later.
Oh how I love elderberries... haven't picked them in years. Have you made Elderberry Syrup for treating the flu? They grow rampantly wild along roadsides here, and I've never looked up a recipe for a tincture or syrup...
ReplyDeleteMine started flowering 2 days ago, I was so happy as our recent gales really blasted the buds.
ReplyDeleteI'm always encouraging people to join folia to listing their own plants, seed stashes, harvests, questions etc. and see who is growing the same plants as you. The more people that are on it the better it gets. I'm hooked!
Any chance you might list yours so I can see at a glance all the herbs you are growing? Here's an invite: http://www.myfolia.com/gardener/CDfolia/invite. It open on my own folia page so you can see how it works, then click via the menu at the top if you want to join.
Another one of those plants on my have to buy list that I really must get to this year :)
ReplyDeleteHow tall is your elderberry? Looked up the chances of growing one here and it said the native one here rarely gets 10 feet and needs part shade. I may have to wait until my trees get big enough. Like Carol, it is on my wish list.
ReplyDeleteHi Laura, I seem to have some flowers but not too many berries and I don't think they grow wild along the road! I have never made a tincture or syrup because I've never had enough to make either.
ReplyDeleteThanks CDFolia. If I ever have a spare moment, I'll look into it.
Hope you can get one Carol.
TG, it is 6' in my garden. It came through the winter. It has always started from the ground and this year the stem and all was good so it just produced new leaves! Very exciting. Hope you can grow it as well some day soon!
Thanks everyone for stopping!