Yellow Elderberry (Sambucus australiasica)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Full sun
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it is only likely to be hardy outdoors in the mildest areas of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Tolerates most soils, including chalk. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame, when it should germinate in early spring. Stored seed can be sown in the spring in a cold frame but will probably germinate better if it is given 2 months warm followed by 2 months cold stratification first. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If good growth is made, the young plants can be placed in their permanent positions during the early summer. Otherwise, either put them in a sheltered nursery bed, or keep them in their pots in a sheltered position and plant them out in spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth 15 - 20cm with a heel, late autumn in a frame or a sheltered outdoor bed.
Edible uses
Fruit - raw or cooked. A sweetish taste. The fruit is quite small but is borne in large clusters and is easy to harvest. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Flowers - raw or cooked.
Material uses
Wood - pale, soft, light.
Habitat
Light rainforest and wet eucalyptus forests, up to the montane zone.
Native range
Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria.