Sambucus nigra Haschberg - Black Elder

The Haschberg black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is a variety appreciated for its productivity. It produces small round berries, about 5 mm (1in) in diameter, of black-violet colour at the end of summer. The berries and flowers are edible, provided they are cooked before consumption. The black-violet berries, used alone or combined with other fruits, can be consumed in jams, jellies, syrups or juices, while the flowers can be used in fritters or infusions. The black elderberry is a beautiful bush with rapid growth, easy to cultivate. Ideally planted in autumn for a harvest in September.

'Haschberg' is a productive variety of Austrian origin. The flowers, in the form of white corymbs, appear around the month of May and emit a pleasant fragrance. They are followed by the formation of small violet-black berries, arranged in pendulous clusters. The harvest of this variety takes place around the month of September. It will increase progressively during the first years to become optimal from the fifth year.

The black elderberry is naturally found at the edge of woods, in hedges or thickets - sometimes confused with deadly nightshade, whose berries are toxic. The black elderberry is a beautiful bush with rapid growth, self-fertile, reaching a height of 3 to 5 m (10 to 16ft). Its therapeutic virtues have been known since antiquity. Plant it in a flowerbed, in an informal hedge, or as a solitary specimen. Its tender pithy stems, dense foliage, fragrant flowers, and black berries attract many insects and birds, thus promoting biodiversity in the garden. The black elderberry is a very hardy small tree, with opposite, finely dentate leaves, emitting an unpleasant odour when crushed. Its leaves, although deciduous, are among the first to appear in spring. Add these leaves to your compost to speed up decomposition or make a liquid fertiliser to combat mildew and aphids.