Native elderberry ( Sambucus gaudichaudiana)

This splendid southern relation of the European elderberry is a prolific fruit producer that is harvestable around Christmas. The round, sweet, white berries are perfect, either fresh or cooked, in a range of desserts, and the flower heads are delicious made into syrup or sparkling wine. This is a perennial bush that dies down over winter and then re-emerges in spring, and is similar to rhubarb in habit. Its beautiful bright, light green leaves complement other plants in the garden, and sprays of flower heads serve as an excellent insect attractant. It grows about 1.5m high and wide in a range of habitats, occurring naturally in coastal regions (so it is quite happy in salty winds), and as an understorey plant in sclerophyll bush. As with most fruiting plants, the berries are sweeter and juicier when it is watered, but it is not a highly demanding plant. 1.5–3m 1.5–3m