Black elder (Sambucus nigra) is a fast-growing shrub or small tree that thrives almost anywhere – in sun or shade and in most soils, preferably moist and nitrogen-rich. It gives two harvests: creamy flower heads in late May and June for cordial, tea or fritters, and clusters of dark berries in August and September for syrup, jam and juice. Pick flowers on a dry, sunny morning when freshly open and use them the same day. Raw berries, leaves and stems contain compounds that cause nausea, so always remove the stalks and cook the berries before eating. Plant bare-root shrubs in autumn or spring; cultivated varieties such as 'Haschberg' give heavier crops than wild plants. Elder flowers and fruits best on younger wood, so in late winter remove some of the oldest branches at ground level to keep the shrub productive and within bounds. Aphids often colonise shoot tips in spring, but ladybirds usually deal with them.