Viburnums and Elders

Viburnum Family - Viburnaceae

European Elder Sambucus nigra

Native throughout Europe and Asia Minor to Iran. A shrub to 10m in height but often much less. Bark corky and soft and plants often remain somewhat semi-woody, without forming a long-lasting stem.


Habit	Flowers	Flowers	Leaves

Leaves	Fruit	Winter twig	Bark

Dwarf Elder Sambucus ebulus

Native throughout Europe and Asia Minor to Iran and North-west Africa. Grows as a herbaceous perennial (to about 1.5m in height) and dies down each autumn. Plants in the UK often produce little fruit and tend to spread more often via vegetative means. Some colonies are long-lived and may extend for 50m along a roadside verge. The dark red-purple anthers of the flowers distinguish this species from other elders in the region.