Elderflower
- Nicole Dawson Cullinan
- Aug 11
- 3 min read
Let's go on a plant safari... growing with the seasons and learning with plants ;)
Everyone needs an elder in their midsts for support... and here is the elderflower!
My distress calls for guidance were answered when an elder grew out my wisteria!
I have tried planting one in my garden in the past but it died. Gardening is so humbling in that way… Proving over and over to me that some things you can’t control and that gardening requires knowledge and patience.
Did you know Elderflowers have a wonderful smell and amazing healing properties?
The latin name for this European elder is Sambucus nigra but it is commonly known as “black elder”. This is a truely wise weed as it is both edible and medicinal. You can read all about these uses in my books Wild Spring and Wild Summer.
Elderflowers have volatile compounds that are present in both the extract and the essential oil. Throughout Europe, they are consumed as herbal tea and even as a throat gargle which has immune support benefits for acute upper respiratory tract illnesses such as cough, influenza, inflammation of the throat.
some facts
Elderflowers are edible and have the following medicinal properties:
Antimicrobial and antioxidant - effective against Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and fungal strains, with moderate inhibitory activity for Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans.
medicinal forms
There are many medicinal forms available from Herbal infusions, tinctures, capsules, tablets, lozenges and Homeopathic remedies made from Sambucus Nigra to store bought and homemade teas, cordials and syrups.
In Wild Spring you will find my recipe for elderflower cordial and crumpets. They are super easy to make from scratch so give it a try!
If you are lucky like me to have your own elder, you can pick your own fresh blossoms. If you have wild elders growing in abundance in your green spaces and foraging is allowed, this is also a wonderful experience to harvest directly from the wild. But you can also buy the dried elderflowers in healthfood stores and online to make your own cordial and teas etc. Remember to minimally harvest the blossoms for cordial and ‘hay fever tea’ so that we will have more berries later in the summer for elderberry elixir.
meal ideas
Elderflowers taste sweet and floral. You can use them in many fruit based dishes to add a distinct flavour. You can use them in baked goods like cakes and biscuits, wine, and cordial for mocktails, and as drizzle on pancakes or ice cream.
caution
Don't wash the blossoms with water or under a tap because you will remove the health and flavour giving elements: pollen and natural yeasts. Rather pick blossoms in a clean protected space and then lay them on a paper towel to allow any creepy-crawlies to move off ;)
Read my blog on elderberries here
So let's go on a plant safari... growing with the seasons and learning with plants ;)
Elderflower is featured in my book Wild Spring.
Download a sample here
Elderberry is featured in my book Wild Summer.
Click the link below for more info
From my wild heart to yours
nicole
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Disclaimers
Please note that the information in this blog is not intended to diagnose illnesses or replace the advice of a qualified health professional. It is intended as an introductory guide for my community and complementary info for the clients I work with. I can in no way be held responsible for any adverse effects and negative consequences that arise from ingesting wild plants or using medicinal products made from them, or for errors in plant identification and self -diagnosis. Please seek help if you are concerned about your health.
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