Red elderberry: dangerous, but beautiful and useful
From a distance, lush white tassels or stuffed scarlet bunches of red elderberry can be mistaken for viburnum... But coming closer and inhaling the not very pleasant scent of leaves and flowers, it becomes clear that this is a completely different plant. However, it is still often planted in gardens, while not for culinary purposes. Red berries are not tasty and even dangerous due to the high content of toxic toxins. But the flowering shrub looks impressive and has long been recognized in folk medicine due to its healing properties.
Description of the plant
The red elderberry grows in a more compact bush than its black relative, and forms a dense crown. Large leaves have a beautiful pinnately dissected shape, while the edges of the leaf plates are dotted with denticles. At a young age, they are dark purple, but gradually turn green with age. The leaves have a specific "elderberry" smell, not very pleasant. Elderberry inflorescences, which open towards the end of May, will not please with the aroma. However, this does not prevent them from decorating the bush with lush white hats and turning it into a garden masterpiece. At the end of summer, red berries ripen in their place, poisonous, but medicinal, if you know how to use them correctly.
It is the color of the berries that is one of the main differences between the red elderberry and the black one. In the latter, the fruits are, respectively, black.
Red elderberry: where to apply
Despite its "poisonous nature", the plant can still be beneficial. The red elderberry contains alkaloids and glycolide, which are responsible for the release of hydrocyanic acid. And many insects do not like her very much. Why not take advantage of this and use the plant to combat pests in horticultural crops? Do not forget about the healing properties of culture. Although it is not recognized in official medicine, it has been used in folk medicine for a long time.
How to get rid of pests with elderberry
Fresh shoots of the plant can help in the fight against such insects:
- Gooseberry moth. It is enough just to stick one or more elderberry shoots inside the gooseberry bush.
- Moth and gooseberry moth. The easiest way is to plant an elderberry between bushes and trees.
- Blackcurrant kidney mite. This pest begins vigorous activity during the flowering period. Before the buds bloom, you should put buckets or jars of water between the currant bushes. Place freshly cut elderberry branches in each container and change them when they fade.
Not to the liking of the smell of elderberry and larger pests. So, the branches of this plant tied to the trunks will not allow the mice to damage the trunk.
The healing properties of red elderberry
Not only berries, but also the rest of the plant contain many useful substances. Tinctures and decoctions of this plant will help reduce the temperature and cure bronchitis, restore hormonal imbalance in menopause. They treat migraine, heart disease, kidney, liver. Elderberry is also good for inflammatory processes on the skin. It relieves irritation and promotes wound healing.