The Ultimate Cozy Guide to Foraging for Elderflowers
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Have you wandered near the woods or river banks in the early summer months and discovered a tall bush covered in fluffy white flowers? You may have encountered an Elder shrub or small tree! The elderberry, or Sambucus, is a wonderful edible plant that has many health benefits. In this post, I will be talking specifically about how to forage for elderflowers. When left to continue growing, elderflowers will turn into elderberries. The flowers, if harvested carefully, are another edible part of the plant that can be preserved and enjoyed as cordial or syrup or jelly, and they can also be used for baking to make cakes, pies, muffins, and more.
what are elderflowers?
Elderflowers, or Sambucus, are deciduous trees or shrubs that have about 10 species. They belong to the Adoxaceae family. They grow in various parts of the world including both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. They are a wonderful addition to forests and woodlands as their flowers provide nectar for pollinators and their berries provide food for various wildlife as well as humans.
The most commonly found elderberry plant in the United States is the American Black Elderberry. Generally, they flower from June to July, and the fruit is ripe and ready to pick August through September.
Wearing: Linen Blouse from Boutique Linen; Blue Tartan Pinafore Dress from Son de Flor; Leather Belt from Frost & Ember Creations; Gardana Clogs from Terrain
are elderflowers good for you?
Most people are more aware of the health benefits of elderberries, which are commonly used in various medicines including cough syrup. However, the elderflowers are also wonderfully beneficial for your health!
Support Your Respiratory System. Elderflowers are well known for their benefits in helping the upper respiratory system. In particular, they are helpful for your sinuses and with runny noses. Elderflowers contain anti catarrhal properties, which helps to reduce and stop a runny nose! It can also be helpful in clearing up any blockage in your sinuses, or that feeling when your ears feel full.
Reduce Allergy Symptoms. Elderflower have anti-inflammatory properties, which is great if you suffer from seasonal allergies. The plant contains ursolic acid and is high in antioxidants. Elderflower can be a wonderful addition to your diet if you need some help with reducing any inflammation in your body.
Manage Fevers. In traditional medicine, elderflower was a key ingredient in helping to reduce fevers. If you are a tea drinker, you may notice that tea blends for immune system support often contain elderflower or elderberries. The active properties in the plant help to induce sweating, which helps to manage your fever. When elderflowers are heated, they promote fever and sweating, but when they are infused into a cold drink, they actually help to cool your body down. Fascinating!
Help Calm Irritated Skin. Due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, elderflowers are also great for your skin. They can help with skin healing and also at reducing skin irritations. As a calming flower, it’s perfect for adding a bath soak or in a poultice, if you use them.
Please take any holistic medicine or herbal foraging advice with a grain of salt. I am not a trained herbalist and am only sharing my experiences as a hobbyist and Master Gardener. Always consult with your practitioner before working with foraged plants that you are not knowledgable on.
elderflowers in folklore:
The elder tree has a long history in folklore! If you are a fan of high fantasy stories, the elder tree is often mentioned as being the base for various magical objects. The most commonly known elder tree is the Sambucus nigra, the European elder or Black elder. This species is native to Europe, parts of Asia, and North Africa. It’s no wonder why the elder tree is mentioned so often in European folklore!
The name elder comes from the Angelo-Saxon word, “aeld” which means, “to kindle” or “fire.” The elder tree was given this name because of its hollow stems, which were used to blow on kindling to start fires.
The elder tree was believed to house spirits or other supernatural beings and was referred to as “Queen of the Woods” or “Elder Mother.” These elder spirits could either bring blessings or curses, depending on who came across their branches. Elderflower blossoms, in particular, where considered auspicious and were used in wedding ceremonies. Their sweet, fruity fragrance was thought to ward off evil from homes and bring good luck.
where to find elderflowers:
There are several different species of the elder tree. For this post, we will be focusing on identifying the Sambucus canadensis, or the American Black Elderberry as this grows where I live.
The American Black Elderberry is also known as the Common Elderberry, American Elder, or simply as Elderberry. It is a 5 to 12 foot (1.5 to 3.6 m) deciduous shrub that is native to North American, Venezuela, and Brazil. American elderberry can be found all throughout the state of Iowa and usually is found growing along roadsides, usually on country roads. This is where I have often found elderflowers to forage before I found them growing on my property!
In general, American elderberry prefers rich, moist, and slightly acidic soil. This is true of most berries that are rich in anti-oxidants like blueberries and aronia berries. They can grow in partial shade and full sun and will spread by root suckers, which can eventually grow into thickets.
Indentifying elderflowers:
To help you identify the American elder, here are some quick identification hints to look for:
Deciduous shrub or small tree with multiple stems from the base. It measures 5 to 12 feet (1.5 to 3.6 m) tall and 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 m) wide. In general, they are wider than they are tall.
The bark is grey-brown to yellow-gray with a white pith.
It has pinnately compound leaves with 5 to 11 leaflets, and the leaves are 2 to 6-inches (5 to 15-cm) long and 0.5 to 2.5-inches (1 to 6-cm) wide. They have a serrated margin and toothed leaflets.
They have profuse blooms of creamy-white flowers that have dozens of tiny flower heads on them. The flowers are fragrant and sweet, similar to pears or honey. They are flat-topped and grow in rounded clusters called umbels.
BE CAUTIOUS. When foraging, it is always best to use caution and study your plant before consuming. The leaves, stems, bark, and roots of elder bushes are toxic. Only consume the flowers and berries.
how to harvest elderflowers:
Once you have identified your elderflowers, now you must learn the best practices for harvesting them! As I have said in my other foraging and harvesting posts, it is not about how much you can gather and preserve, but rather about how you can enjoy the process of doing so.
Harvest when Flowers are Open. Elderflowers are usually blooming June through July in various parts of the United States. In fact, their opening generally signifies the beginning of summer, according to nature’s calendar! It’s best to harvest elderflowers are their peak, or when the flowers have fully opened. The flowers will open at the center umbel will open first, followed by the outer umbels. It is best to wait until most of the buds have opened before picking.
Bring a Basket or Mesh Bag. Using a compact container to collect elderflowers is best, as some of the flowers will fall off of the umbels as you pick them and transport them. The flowers are incredibly delicate and blow away easily in the wind. Without proper air circulation, the flowers will brown and lose their flavor, so make sure that whatever container you are using has air flow.
Pick in the Morning or Evening. Because elderflowers tend to bloom once the weather is hot and sunny, it’s best to try and harvest them at a cool part of the day so that they do not wilt as easily. Try your best to keep your harvested flowers out of direct sunlight to prolong their freshness.
Pinch or Snip the Stems. I have found that it’s easiest to pinch back or snip at the fleshy stem holding each spray of flowers with garden snips. You can also simply pinch at each umbel and pull off individual blooms, but this makes them easy to lose.
Remove the Stems. When you are home or while you are picking, try to remove as much of the umbel as possible. The stems contain cyanidin glycoside, which can make you sick with nausea and vomiting. You want only the flowers.
how to store and preserve elderflowers:
After you have picked your flowers, it is best to process them as soon as possible. Elderflowers do not store well in the fridge, and they tend to brown almost immediately.
If you plan to use the fresh flowers, it is best to plan to pick and process them on the same day. The flowers will remain perky for a few hours at room temperature, but they will soon wilt and become more difficult to use the longer you wait.
To Dry Elderflowers: Remove any stems and lay the flowers on mesh drying screens in a place where they won’t blow away but has good air circulation and low humidity. You can also tie up the stems and hang the flowers upside down, removing the flowers once fully dried. Store the dried flowers in an airtight container in a cool, dry location such as a pantry shelf.
Dried elderflowers can be used for making tea, herbal tinctures, poultices, and more.
I am using these 16 oz Swing Top Bottles for brewing to make Elderflower Cordial.
baking & Cooking with elderflowers:
Personally, I love using fresh elderflowers during their peak to make various preserves in my kitchen! There are so many delightful and unique recipes that you can make, both with dried and fresh elderflowers.
To use fresh elderflowers, try to remove as much of the stem, or umbels, as possible. It is best to NOT wash them, as this can damage the flowers and alter their flavor. Simply shake out any insects that may be living on the flowers.
Fresh elderflowers can be used to make a number of different dishes such as quick breads, cakes, pies, syrups, sauces, cordial, and so many others. Here are some elderflower recipes from my blog:
final thoughts:
I hope that you enjoyed this easy guide to foraging for elderflowers!
Elderflowers and elderberries are full of extraordinary medicinal benefits. I also love learning about plant folklore, especially when I am foraging for unique ingredients. While its no longer common to gather elderflowers for use in the home, I think it is something that can be so wonderful to incorporate in a small way to connect with the people from the past who used to do the same.
This cozy guide is meant to help take the pressure off of gathering and preserving wild foods, and I truly believe that even just gathering a few elderflower sprays for one small cup of tea is just as grand as storing enough to last you for the entire winter.
xoxo Kayla
more posts you might enjoy!
sources:
A New Old Crop; West Virginia University Extension
Elderberry; Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
The Elder: Elderflowers, Elderberries, and the Legend; The Wild Foodie
Elderflower; RX List
5 Incredible Elderflower Health Benefits; Wild Dispensary
Elder; Woodland Trust
American Black Elderberry; U.S. Forest Service
