Black Lace Elderberry's scientific name is Sambucus nigra. The picture on the left is from my garden in 2009. It needs more sunlight than it had in my garden to achieve the beautiful dark, maroon-colored leaves. My picture was taken before its bloom time. The picture on the right is from the Proven Winners website. They are well-known in the garden business world.
In the nightstand next to my bed I keep a supply of Ricola cough drops. You don't have to have a sore throat to enjoy one. I had one this morning. The reason I mention this is because one of the medicinal herbs used to make the Ricola drop is Elderberry flower. It is a well-established medicinal plant.
Evidence of Ricola consumption this morning.Ricola website picture.
On the package you can see the elder flower shown as one of the ingredients. On the wrapper the elder flower is the white one in the bottom left hand corner. I do not have a sore throat. I simply enjoy the flavor.
I did not copy the whole WebMD article because you can look it up if interested.
The elderberry is not only used medicinally, it also can be made into wines, cordials, and other food items.
The website The Spruce Eats is full of information and recipes.
I found this picture in my files. Here is my Black Lace’s flower.
My name is Katherine J. Krein. I lost my father in June of 2013, and then I lost my mother in November of the same year. After they both died I went through a mind-warping number obsession that has taken me years to control. This is my story. It is now 2025. I still use this site to post some poems and thoughts. My obsession has faded, however, I still notice the numbers. Faith, hope, and love is what guides me now.
View all posts by Katherine J Krein
movingforwardslowly 