Sambucus callicarpa
| Sambucus callicarpa | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 10' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Mid Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Sambucus callicarpa (common name: red coast elder)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame, when it should germinate in early spring. Stored seed can be sown in the spring in a cold frame but will probably germinate better if it is given 2 months warm followed by 2 months cold stratification first[1][2][3]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If good growth is made, the young plants can be placed in their permanent positions during the early summer. Otherwise, either put them in a sheltered nursery bed, or keep them in their pots in a sheltered position and plant them out in spring of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[1].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth 15 - 20cm with a heel, late autumn in a frame or a sheltered outdoor bed[1].
Cultivation: Tolerates most soils, including chalk[4], but prefers a moist loamy soil[5][4]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates some shade but is best in a sunny position[6]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution and coastal situations[4].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[4].
Range: Western N. America - Alaska to California.
Habitat: River banks in low moist soils from sea-level to 2400 metres[7].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[8][9][10]. The fruit can be made into jams and preserves[10]. It can also be dried for winter use[11]. The fruit is about 5mm in diameter and is borne in large clusters[4]. Some caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity.
Flowers - raw or cooked.
Medicinal: The leaves are abortifacient, analgesic, oxytocic and poultice[10]. A decoction of the leaves has been used to terminate a pregnancy and can also be taken during labour to ease the birth[10]. An infusion of the leaves has been used as an antiseptic wash on areas affected by blood poisoning[10]. A poultice of the pounded leaves has been applied to abscess and boils and also to sore joints to help reduce the swelling[10]. A poultice of the cooked shoots has been used to alleviate pain[10].
The bark is cathartic[10]. An infusion of the bark has been used in the treatment of coughs and colds[10]. A poultice of the bark has been applied to sore joints to help reduce the swelling[10].
The fruit has been cooked and eaten as a treatment for stomach problems[10].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Pollution: Tolerates environmental pollution.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Known Hazards: Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, the leaves and stems of some members of this genus are poisonous[12][13]. The fruit of many species (although no records have been seen for this species) has been known to cause stomach upsets to
Also Known As: S. racemosa callicarpa. S. racemosa pubens arborescens. (Torr.&Gray.)Gray.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ Gordon, A and D Rowe. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. 1982.
- ↑ Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Gunther, Erna. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press, 1981.
- ↑ Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ Cooper, Marion. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. The Stationery Office, 1984.