Elder as a wild, native plant is usually called Elderflower and Elderberry because the flowers and fruit are a traditional "hedgerow crop", consumed to this day in the form of drinks: sweet Elderflower cordials and herbal medicine Elderberry syrups.
Garden varieties are usually referred to as Elder, or Sambucus.
- Wild Elderflower is a common country hedge plant, it will seed itself, but we do not recommend planting Elder in a mixed species hedge with anything except brambles.
As a single species hedge, common Elder is good for dark, wet, or dry trouble corners that won't get much attention. - Golden Elder and Black Lace Elder are usually hard pruned yearly to produce lush new foliage, in which case you don't get flowers and berries.