When does elderflower bloom?

When the elder blooms

If you take a look at a flowering calendar, you will surely notice that the information on the flowering time of the elder varies a lot. Because Holler does not bloom in a fixed time. Sunlight and the place of growth have a considerable influence on the flowering time. It mainly depends on the location and the weather.

Elder, elder or lilac tree, other names of the elderberry bush, are seen as companions in summer. The flowering period includes the spring as well as part of the summer months. But mostly the black one blooms elder (Sambucus nigra) from mid-May to early or late June. You can expect to see it in bloom between May and July.

Even in the shade, the shrub Flowers that appear later and sparser. If the elderflowers have already faded in southern Germany, you might still find them in full glory on Rügen.

In various regions, elderberry can even set flowers again in late summer. That depends on the type of plant. If you prune your elderberry bush radically in the garden, one flower will also fail completely.

Use elderflower and berries in the kitchen

Over time, you will not be guided by "when", but by "how". Because the blossoms and fruits of the elder offer many possibilities in the kitchen.

The intensely fragrant flowers are harvested when they have fully opened and show as little green as possible. Please do not wash before use. That would destroy the valuable ingredients such as nectar and pollen. It is better to shake out the cones thoroughly.

For tea, dry the flowers as quickly and gently as possible, under no circumstances in full sun. Take two teaspoons of dried flowers to a cup of tea. After brewing, the tea should steep for another ten minutes.

Baking the flower umbels as egg cakes in batter is very popular. This is quite simple. Prepare a thin batter as you like. The umbrella panicles are dipped into the batter and then fried or baked.

No less well known is the setting of the flowers for an elderberry sparkling wine. From the Berry can you make elderberry soup, juice, Wine, Make syrup, jelly or jam.

You harvest the ripe elderberries when they are deep black. You should harvest ripe berries quickly, because birds also appreciate the fruit. Often individual fruits on the umbels are still green. Be careful, all green parts of the elder are poisonous. The few green berries lose their poison when they are cooked.

Medicinal effects of elderberry

Elderberry has been a well-known medicinal plant for centuries. Almost all parts of the plant are medically effective. Today flowers and fruits are most commonly used. You must not use leaves and bark for self-medication.

The tea mentioned above is recommended for colds, bronchitis, fever, migraines, rheumatic pain, gout and nervousness. Warm elderberry juice is also considered a cure for a cold. You can inhale the tea with the flu or use it cooled to gargle.

The essential oil of the flowers is often used in the cosmetics industry. Elderflower water used to be very popular for lightening freckles and as an eye wash.

The raw fruits contain a lot of vitamin C. Unfortunately, this is lost when cooking. Still, the lilacberries are very healthy. From five parts of berries and one part of sugar, cook a thick honey mixture. Taken in spoons, this is a helpful remedy for coughs and runny nose.

It's worth looking out for the white elderberry every year. First the flowers with their wonderful scent and later the black, aromatic berries make an elderberry bush a valuable garden dweller. The tree used to be considered sacred. The elderly mother lived in it in the form of "Frau Holle". It was from here that she practiced her earth magic and punished anyone who harmed the Hollerbusch unjustifiably.