Common elder

The best place for this vertical shooting, deciduous thicket of a shrub is the wild or cottage garden where it makes a fine hedge. It has sprays of tiny white flowers in early summer followed by small black fruit which can be cooked and eaten, or used to make a refreshing summer drink. When creating an elder hedge, use this species with 'Guincho Purple' which has darker summer leaves which turn red before falling in the autumn. You can use elder stems as a support for a climbing wild rose to provide more flowers in the summer.