Elderberry plant question

[froggirl]

Hi all,
Are all Elderberry plants considered Sambucus Nigra? I found some online called "Nova" and "York".
Thanks!
--f.g.

[Freeholder]

'Nova' and 'York' are variety names, it's still the same plant.

Kathleen

[froggirl]

Originally Posted by BlueJuniperFarm

'Nova' and 'York' are variety names, it's still the same plant.

Kathleen

Thanks Kathleen.
--f.g.

[goatlady]

In answer to your original questions NO, all elderberry plants are NOT S. nigra. There are reds and blues also, but S. nigra IS the medicinal one and the one to use for cooking/eating. The majority of the reds/blues are/can be toxic to ingest.

[froggirl]

Originally Posted by goatlady

In answer to your original questions NO, all elderberry plants are NOT S. nigra. There are reds and blues also, but S. nigra IS the medicinal one and the one to use for cooking/eating. The majority of the reds/blues are/can be toxic to ingest.

Thanks goatlady...the one I ordered is a black berried variety from what the description says. Here's the link:
http://gurneys.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_69453

THanks again,
--f.g.

[culpeper]

Sambucus nigra is the 'official' elder, but S. canadensis can be used in the same ways. Others species of sambucus are too toxic to be used.

[mayfair]

Is the red-berried one native to WA toxic? I read conflicting info. on this. We used to make jelly out of the black one back east.

[goatlady]

S. candensis is a subspecies of S. nigra and as such I consider them basically the same. It's my understanding the S. nigra is the European elder and S. candensis is the American elder variety.

[Cyngbaeld]

Kathleen is right, Nova and York are two of the many cultivers of Black Elderberry.

[mrglock27]

the reds are bad for humans but birds can eat them. The blues you can eat.