The Wisdom of Elder
by Sunya Ince-Johannsen, 2020 Vesper Meadow Intern
Up at Vesper Meadow, we are currently working on rehabilitating, restoring, and supporting the productivity of the Elderberry population, which grows loosely intermingled with willows, aspen, pacific yew, ponderosa pine, and fir trees around the periphery of the meadow. During a recent survey of the meadow, we were pleasantly surprised to find over 70 elder bushes growing in and around the meadow, in various different growth stages.
Elderberry trees growing on the edge of the meadow at Vesper Meadow Restoration Preserve
The latin name Sambucus is derived from the word “Sambuca”, which were the panpipes made out of the hollowed-out branches of elderberry bushes, often associated with Pan, the Greek god of nature. Sambucus belongs to either the Caprifoliaceae or the Adoxaceae family, depending on which botanist you ask, and blooms in the late spring or early summer, right around the corner!
Elderberry branches cut for propagation at Vesper Meadow Restoration Preserve
With everything going on in the world right now, taking a closer look at the medicinal and cultural usages of Elder has never felt more timely. Elder has been long been touted by herbal practitioners for its antiviral and immune modulating properties, and has been referenced in the pharmacopeia dating back all the way to Hippocrates (circa 370 BC).
Elderberry in flower
It has long been used to treat cold and flu symptoms, as well as for helping to break a fever. The elderberry flowers can have an anti-inflammatory effect on the upper respiratory system, while the berries are high in vitamin C, Vitamin A, fiber, as well as antioxidants. They carry with them a whole host of potential health benefits, from warding off the flu, reducing blood pressure, and fighting oxidative damage to your skin from sun exposure and pollutants. The flowers have long been used in medicine as well as general culinary use, as they make lovely additions to baked goods, cocktails, and cordials, especially during the hot summer months when you can reap the benefits of the diaphoretic properties to help cool you down.
The ancient folklore surrounding Elder is as mysterious as it is plentiful. It has played an important role in both Native American cultures as well as western folk lore dating back to early pagan cultures in Europe. In pagan religions and Native cultures, Elder has been considered “the elder mother” or “goddess tree”, as many cultures believed that spirits or goddesses would reside within the tree. In Christianity, Elder played an important cultural role as well, as the cross that Jesus was crucified on was said to have been made of the wood from an Elder tree. Elder was believed to ward off evil spirits, and ancient Celtic cultures would plant an Elder tree on their gravesites, to protect and guard over their loved ones. Even to this day, the lore continues: Harry Potter fans will remember that the most powerful wand of them all was made out of the wood from an Elder branch.
However, Elderberry also plays an integral role within the ecosystem as a whole, providing habitat and nutrients to a variety of species. The rare Siskiyou Horned Grasshopper is believed to be endemic to the Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion and tends to be found in grassy meadows with the presence of Elderberry. In fact, it is believed that Elderberry is the favorite host plant for a female grasshopper to lay her eggs on. Elderberry is also a key food source for various species of birds and insects, as well as bear, deer, and elk.
We are very excited to watch Elder begin to unfurl her leaves and burst into bloom in the coming months, with that delicate sweet scent of summer. I’ll leave you with a fun new quarantine recipe to try, once the Elder starts blooming, coming up before we know it:
Elder Fritters Recipe:
Ingredients
Fresh elder flowers, with the stem intactPre-made pancake mix (One where you only add water is perfect.)
Directions
Wash the flowers and let them dry, or shake them and let them sit out for an hour. There may be a few small bugs, but they will vacate!
Mix a batch of pancake batter, following the package instructions.
Dip the flowers in the batter, using the stem as a handle.
Using a mild oil, deep fry the flowers – stems up—until golden brown.
Put the finished flowers on several layers of paper towels and let them cool slightly. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.
Enjoy – but don’t eat the stems. The larger stems have alkaloids, so it’s best to avoid them.
Here are some sources used in the writing of this blog post:
Bureau of Land Management, Siskiyou Short Horned Grasshopper 2008 Survey Summary
The Herbal Academy, The Joy of Harvesting and Using Elderflowers, 2015
United Plant Savers, Elderberry an abundant native medicine, 2013
Matthew Wood, The Book of Herbal Wisdom