Extremely vigorous, perennial and deciduous shrub, found in all uncultivated areas of the Italian peninsular up to an altitude of 1200 metres. Woody branches, pleasantly perfumed blossoms, may reach remarkable dimensions of up to 5 metres. "Sambuco ebulus" differs in that the branches are not woody, the flowers have a bitter almond smell and the fruit is poisonous.
Pick both flowers and leaves in April or May, fruit towards the end of August and the bark in autumn.
Dry flowers and store in air-tight containers for use culinary and medicinal use throughout the year. In olden times dried flowers were placed in crates of fruit to preserve them. Freshly picked beries, full of Vitamin C, were made into jams.
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Notes
Sambucus nigra In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .Versione 2010.1
Sandro Pignatti, Flora d'Italia, Bologna, Edagricole, 1982