Elderflower is a sweet, slightly fruity flower that you can infuse into tea, make into syrup, apply to your skin, or even bake into your dessert.

Elder flower is a delicate white flower that comes from the black elder tree (Sambucus Nigra), a deciduous shrub or small tree found in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia, and is the source of elderberry. It can grow up to 30 feet tall. Elderflowers come in small clusters called umbels that measure up to 10 inches across, and have a sweet fragrance. The tree’s leaves are arranged across from each other, or pinnate, and include about 5 to 7 leaflets. When young, its stems and bark are smooth and pale green, and it grows grayer and rougher as it ages. It blooms between late May and early July, depending on the region you find it in. Elderflower contains chemicals that have antioxidant and antiviral effects, often used to treat the common cold, seasonal allergies, inflammation, and skin irritations.* It is easily confused for the American elder, dwarf elder, and elderberry, but is in fact a different plant. It is also easily mistaken for the hemlock or water hemlock, which are poisonous. You can differentiate the elderflower from its dangerous doppelgänger by the smell—the elderflower has a sweet, pleasant smell, whereas the hemlock has a more foul smell, with purple-spotted stems.
Precautions
Elderflower can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea when taken excessively, due to potential toxins found in the plant. It might also lower blood sugar levels, interfering with diabetes and other blood sugar control needs.* We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For educational purposes only.