Elder

Elder blooms in every Danish hedgerow in June, and homemade elderflower cordial – hyldeblomstsaft – is the taste of a Danish summer.

The elder is a large shrub or small tree with corky bark and pinnate leaves ending in a single leaflet. In June it produces flat umbels of tiny creamy-white flowers with a strong, sweet scent, which ripen into purplish-black berries in late summer. It grows in scrub, at woodland edges, in hedgerows and around buildings, often on nitrogen-rich soils. The raw berries and other parts of the plant are mildly poisonous, but once cooked the berries can be used for juices, soups and preserves.

Significance in the country

Picking elderflowers and turning them into cordial is one of the most popular Danish culinary traditions, and elderberry soup was once a winter treat. In Danish folklore the elder bush is home to “Hyldemor” – the Elder Mother, heroine of a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen.

Where it grows

Common throughout the country – in hedgerows, at woodland edges, in gardens and around farm buildings.

More: Wikipedia (en) Wikipedia (pl)