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Moved into new house and unsure of plants

CJ9CJ9 Posts: 7

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  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    Looks like Elder, Sambucus nigra, swamping a Cotoneaster horizontalis



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • CJ9CJ9 Posts: 7

    Is it a weed then?

     

  • CJ9CJ9 Posts: 7

    i have 3 children under 5, does anyone know if the leaves or fruit/berries of this plant are harmful/poisonous? Thank you.

  • CJ9CJ9 Posts: 7

    Should I remove it and allow the cotoneaster horizontal is to grow? Although this has berries too and I'm not sure if these are harmful too. Thank you for any help (from a worried Mum!)

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    Elder might be regarded as a weed

    No it's not poisonous, you make wine with the flowers or the berries

    I'd have it out, it's a big thing for up against a house.

    Cotoneaster isn't one of the notable poisonous plants but take the berries off if you're worried. It's not very big and by the time it is you will have taught the kids not to eat plants without asking you first.

     



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Steve 309Steve 309 Posts: 2,753

    Elder flowers can be used to make a delicious non-alcoholic champagne and the berries for an equally delicious but definitely alcoholic wine.  Not sure, though, if they're edible straight from the bush.  No idea about cotoneaster although the birds seem to do alright on them.

    Not quite what you wanted - sorry image

    Clearly you can't have both in the same place! The elder is more likely to be a weed, albeit several years old.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    They're not poisonous straight from the bush but they're not very nice.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Steve 309Steve 309 Posts: 2,753

    Good - so the kids can try them and be put off without poisoning themselves! image

  • CJ9CJ9 Posts: 7

    Thank you!image

  • Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123

    Elderberries straight from the bush can cause stomach upsets in children and vunerable adults, but the wine from the berries is like port if left for a few years. A good reason for keeping it.

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