Elder is a small tree or shrub known for its berrylike fruit. There are dozens of species (kinds). Elders grow in temperate (mild) areas of the Northern Hemisphere. The American elder is a shrub that grows in the eastern United States. Its leaves have 5 to 7 leaflets with toothed edges. The plants bear clusters of small white flowers and black, purple, or red berrylike fruit. The fruit is used to make wine, pies, jelly, and jam.
Elder stems contain a soft pith (core) that can be removed. The pith can be hollowed to make whistles and blowguns. The ancient Greeks made a musical instrument called a sambuke from the elder stem. The roots, stems, leaves, and unripe fruits of elders are poisonous. Children have been poisoned from toys made from hollowed stems.
Elders thrive in moist areas. They grow quickly and often form thickets. Some other shrubs and trees are called elders, but they are not closely related to true elders. The poison elder is a sumac, and the boxelder is a maple.
