Family: Viburnaceae, Caprifoliaceae
Species: Sambucus nigra var. Black Lace or Black Beauty
Common name: Sambuco bellezza nera - English: Black Elderberry - Deutsch: Schwarzer Holunder
Etymology
The genus name appears to derive from the Greek “Sambike,” a musical instrument traditionally crafted using the hollowed branches of the elder.
Description
The plant Sambucus nigra “Black Beauty” is a deciduous shrub that exhibits light-coloured bark in its early years, which darkens with age. Its leaves are compound, consisting of five ovate leaflets with serrated margins, in dark violet, almost black, which persists through summer, colouring the landscape for a longer period.
The flowers are gathered in striking, showy umbels (corimbi) up to 20 cm long. They are a deep pink with five petals and bloom at the beginning of summer. These are followed in autumn by globose blackberries. The shrub is cultivated for its compact foliage and fragrant summer blooms, either as a specimen on its own or within naturalistic garden settings.
Habitat
Native to Europe, North Africa, and southwestern Asia.
Properties and Uses
Black-leaf elder is used mainly in culinary applications, utilising its fruits and leaves. The fruits are renowned for making marmalades, creams, syrups, and sweet preserves, while the leaves add a refreshing flavor to many dishes, especially when paired with meat.
Sambucus nigra has also gained great popularity in the cosmetic field, where the flowers are often used to create an intense, fruity fragrance. In medicinal applications, its highly laxative fruits yield substances that help alleviate cough and cold. At the same time, the leaves and bark produce hydrating creams for the body and face.
It is important to note that the seeds of the black-leaf elder are toxic to humans and may cause mild discomfort if the fruits are consumed raw; therefore, the berries must always be cooked before use.
A notable feature of the branches and trunk is the central white, spongy pith, valued for its softness and elasticity. This pith holds botanical specimens in place during dissection. Additionally, once stripped of their pith, young branches have provided generations of children with the means to craft blowpipes and whistling devices.
Notes and Curiosities
The pale pink flowers create a beautiful contrast with the almost black foliage. Rich in nectar and pollen, the flowers often attract bees and other pollinating insects, as observed around Heller Garden.
Their location is ideal in the garden, as they are found in areas sheltered from the wind—strong gusts would hinder proper bud development. Moreover, their direct exposure to the sun ensures more vigorous flowering. The plant thrives in calcareous soils with high moisture content, as found in the Heller Garden.