Der Holunder ist ein flach wurzelnder, bis zu 7 m hoher Baum. Seine gelblich-weißen Blüten besitzen einen charakteristischen Geruch und schmecken schleimig-süß. Die getrockneten Blüten sind bei uns als "Fliedertee" bekannt. Im Volksglauben hausen die guten Hausgeister in Holunder-Bäumen, daher überlegt sich der abergläubische Landbewohner ganz genau, ob er einen Holunder fällen soll oder nicht. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 4–6 m (rarely to 10 m) tall. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, 10–30 cm long, pinnate with five to seven leaflets, the leaflets 5–12 cm long and 3–5 cm broad, with a serrated margin. The hermaphrodite flowers are borne in large corymbs 10–25 cm diameter in mid summer, the individual flowers white, 5–6 mm diameter, with five petals; they are pollinated by flies. The fruit is a dark purple to black berry 3–5 mm diameter, produced in drooping clusters in the late autumn; they are an important food for many fruit-eating birds, notably Blackcaps. This plant is used as a medicinal plant and also used as a ornamental plant. It is cited as a poisonous plant to mammals as well as cited as a weed. The Elder Tree was supposed to ward off evil influence and give protection from witches, a popular belief held in widely-distant countries. If an elder tree was cut down, a spirit known as the Elder Mother would be released and take her revenge. The tree could only safely be cut while chanting a rhyme to the Elder Mother.
