This is one of commonest and most successful colonisers of hedgerows here in Cheshire in fact it wasn't until I deliberately looked for the shrub that I noticed we had one in the hedge of our front garden. The white umbel like flowers of summer give way to fruits like small black currants which people still use to make elderberry wine.

Sambucus nigra is one of the commonest shrubs in the British Isles being found virtually everywhere including the outer isles of St Kilda and Shetland. Only the highest northern Scottish mountains keep it from flourishing

LHS: Waste ground, Ellesmere Port 18th May 2005 RHS: Helsby, Cheshire 4th October 2004

Added on October 4th 2004, updated 27th January 2012