Sambucus Mexicana

starch · Joined: 14 Mar 2015 Posts: 49

This isn't exactly a tropical fruit or rare fruit topic, but I wanted to see if anyone has experience with the Mexican Elderberry / Blue Elderberry (Sambucus Mexicana / Sambucus Nigra Caerulea).

I have a spot in my yard that gets baking hot in the summer (western exposure along an eastern block wall, so a lot of direct and indirect/reflected heat in summer afternoons). Instead of trying to adapt this spot to try to grow something more tropical, I wanted to go with a native plant to this area. But I still want it to be a fruit tree / shrub. I was considering a pomegranate but I already have a few and want to try something different.

So it seems to me than an Elderberry would be a good fit. For the past couple of years around cold season my wife picks up Elderberry syrup from the store and it really does seem to help with reducing winter time sicknesses. So there is a desire from me to attempt to make my own. The flavor is very deep and rich sweet-tart. I think it would make a really good pie too.

Does anyone have experience growing these and harvesting these? Positive or negative thoughts? Based on other articles it seems like it would take summer heat in full sun, would you agree?

starch · Joined: 14 Mar 2015 Posts: 49

For all who are interested in this plant, there is a very good discussion here: http://www.cloudforest.com/cafe/gardening/sambucus-mexicana-t5877.html

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 8:02 pm Post subject:

I have had drinkable yogurt in Peru made of Elderberry and it tastes great. It's very similar to blueberry as far as I could tell, at least once its been processed. Apparently the fruit are toxic until cooked. It is cold tolerant but does not look very salt tolerant, and seems to like acid soil. Probably hard to grow here.

http://saborexpress.com.pe/index.php/quesos/yogurt-bebible-gloria-sauco-por-500-ml-detail

starch · Joined: 14 Mar 2015 Posts: 49

That drinkable yogurt sounds cool! That is a good point about being cold tolerant but not salt tolerant. I am thinking about trying to grow it in a pot for that reason and the other reasons brought up here: http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=14950.0