Elder - Sambucus nigra

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Alternative names

Common Elder

Description

Shrub or tree to 10 metres, with grey-brown corky bark and white pith. Branches arching, rather brittle. Flowers creamy white, with yellowish white anthers in flat topped cluster 14 to 24 mm across, scented. Berry turning red and eventually black when ripe.

Identification difficulty

Habitat

Various. Woods, hedgerows, old walls and around farms.

When to see it

June and July.

Life History

Deciduous.

UK Status

Very common throughout Britain

VC55 Status

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 602 of the 617 tetrads.

David Gould
Aylestone Meadows, Leicester.
18 July 2015
Saharima Roenisch
Spinney Hill Park
20 August 2017
Graham Calow
Wigston Parva
22 January 2016
buds
stepgray4
Wymeswold Woodland
26 February 2021
Emerging leaves
Lostash
Whetstone GCR Footpath
21 August 2015
stepgray4
Launde Big Wood
19 April 2021
egaten
Shenton
21 June 2021
AJ Cann
Croft Glebe
13 January 2018
Lenticels on bark
stepgray4
Ulverscroft NR
29 November 2020
Corky growth
Craig Mabbett
Leire Footpath From Broughton Astley To Leire
14 August 2021

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

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MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names: Elderberry, Elder
Species group:: Trees, Shrubs & Climbers
Kingdom:: Plantae
Order:: Dipsacales
Family:: Adoxaceae
Records on NatureSpot:: 793
First record:: 01/01/1979 (Patricia Evans)
Last record:: 21/01/2026 (Pugh, Dylan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

stepgray4
Wymeswold Meadows
25 March 2021
David Nicholls
Ratby
24 May 2014
stepgray4
Wymeswold Woodland
26 February 2021
Graham Calow
Burbage Common and Woods
23 June 2012
Graham Calow
Higham on the Hill
11 June 2015
Lostash
Whetstone GCR Footpath
30 June 2013
Alan Semper
Harby footpath
17 June 2013
Lostash
Whetstone GCR Footpath
24 May 2015
Barbara Cooper
Walton on the Wolds
11 June 2015
Paul Ruddoch
Melton Country Park
20 July 2015
Andy's Rutland
Headland/Footpath-Love's Lane to Gunnel Lane Meadow-Empingham
17 July 2018
Alan Semper
Harby, Green La
31 August 2012
David Nicholls
Ashby Canal, Shackerstone
15 September 2012
Graham Calow
Sapcote
04 November 2007
autumn colours
Ron.stevens
Broughton Astley
05 June 2011
Alan Semper
Harby garden
04 June 2012
CC
Bath Street
07 September 2021
Paul Ruddoch
Melton Country Park
20 July 2015
CC
Bath Street
07 September 2021
Dylan
Melton Mowbray
17 August 2021
Elder

Elder Whitewash

Elder Whitewash (Hyphodontia sambuci) is a chalky white or greyish fungal pathogen found on the dead wood of branches of Elder that are still attached to the tree.

Elder Aphid

Elder Aphid (Aphis sambuci) is a variable aphid species, but the usual form is dark grey marked with white. It is usually associated with Elder, although it may use other plants.

Pseudocercospora depazeoides

Cercospora depazeoides is a fungus which attacks the leaves of Elder, creating a strange, pale, scale like appearance on the upper surface of the leaves, and tiny black spots beneath.

Epitrimerus trilobus

Epitrimerus trilobus is a mite that causes galls to form on the leaves of Elder. The leaf margin rolls upwards and becomes slightly thickened. The roll is 1 - 5mm wide, tight, short or extending around most of the leaf; the leaf may be creased or buckled and reduced in size; the gall contains mites.