Sambucus miquelii - Elder

Sambucus miquelii, also known as Miquel's Elderberry, is a little known, rarely cultivated species native to the Far East. It is similar to Sambucus racemosa, but it is more vigorous, with larger leaves, inflorescences, and clusters of fruits. Very early in foliage, its flowering begins with reddish-violet buds of a very distinct colour that open into yellowish-white flowers. The berries are red or orange and loved by birds. It is an easy-to-grow shrub, perfectly hardy in all normal soils, in partial shade or even shade, which requires a rich soil and slightly more moisture than other elderberries.

Sambucus miquelii is a rare species of elderberry native to the Far East. It is a deciduous shrub of the viburnum family. It forms a bushy shrub that, at the age of 10, reaches 4m in height and 5m in diameter. Its somewhat undefined habit and flexible branches covered with abundant foliage give a wild charm to this shrub. The dark green, deciduous leaves are opposite, with 5 to 11 oblong leaflets, with toothed edges and 20cm long. Its Nectar-rich and honey-producing, very early flowering in conical panicles of star-shaped creamy white flowers appears at the end of the stems in May-June. It is followed by the formation of clusters loaded with very decorative, round and shiny orange to red berries, which are a delight for birds. It is hardy down to -29ºC.

Miquel's Elderberry is a treasure for the wild and natural garden. Not demanding in terms of soil type, as long as it is well-drained and moist, this variety prefers partial shade and even tolerates shade. In informal hedges, at the edge of undergrowth or in the undergrowth, associate it with species such as birch trees, hazelnuts, goat willows, and rowan trees. It also blends well with the autumn colours with its colourful berries and Hydrangeas that appreciate shaded situations.

In the garden:

Elderberry leaves are known to accelerate compost decomposition. Black elderberry leaf infusion is useful in organic gardening to fight against mildew and aphid attacks, or rodents: macerate 1kg of leaves for a few days in 10L of water, and spray as needed. It can also be planted in an orchard, where it attracts insect-predatory birds.