Elder

Elder is the unusual entry in the British and Irish stick-wood family. The fresh-cut stem feels light and pithy, with a substantial soft core running through the centre. The wood seems insubstantial — yet properly seasoned and worked, elder produces a surprisingly hard, light, attractive working stick. The cultural register is overwhelmingly folkloric (the protective-tree tradition, the Elder Mother spirit, the prohibition on burning elder wood) rather than working-craft. Walking-stick use is small but legitimate.

This page covers elder as a stick wood. For the broader folkloric-tree context, see Rowan and Hawthorn. For other-niche-woods context, see Other woods of note.

Quick reference

Common names	Elder, common elder, elderberry, trom (Irish), ysgawen (Welsh)
Binomial	Sambucus nigra
Family	Adoxaceae (modern classification; previously Caprifoliaceae)
Native range	Most of Europe, including Britain and Ireland; western Asia; North Africa
Habit	Small tree or large shrub, 3-10 m; rarely larger
Bark	Greyish-brown, deeply furrowed and corky on mature stems
Leaves	Pinnate compound, 5-7 oval leaflets, 10-20 cm long overall; strong distinctive smell when crushed
Flowers	Dense flat creamy-white corymbs in early summer; strong sweet scent
Fruit	Small black berries in heavy clusters, ripening late summer through autumn; edible when cooked
Wood density	~650 kg/m³ at 12% MC
Janka hardness	~5,500 N once seasoned (significantly less when freshly cut)
Working tradition	Limited as a stick wood; substantial folkloric and folk-art use

The plant

Elder grows as a small tree or substantial shrub across most of Britain and Ireland, particularly common in waste ground, scrub, hedgerows, and as understory in deciduous woodland. The species is extraordinarily widespread; few rural British or Irish landscapes lack at least scattered elder plants.

Three features identify elder in the field:

The pinnate compound leaves. Each leaf is 10-20 cm long with 5-7 oval, serrated leaflets along a central stalk. The leaves emerge early in spring and persist late into autumn. When crushed, the leaves emit a distinctive strong smell — reminiscent of cat urine to some observers — which is diagnostic.

The flowers. Dense flat-topped creamy-white corymbs (clusters) in early summer (May-June), with strong sweet scent. The flowers are a substantial nectar source for insects and have substantial culinary tradition (elderflower cordial, elderflower fritters, elderflower wine).

The fruit. Small black berries in heavy drooping clusters, ripening late summer through autumn. The berries are toxic when raw but edible when cooked (substantial elderberry wine, jam, and cordial tradition across Europe).

Elder is short-lived for a tree — typically 20-40 years, occasionally 60+. The species grows rapidly from seed or root sucker; established colonies can be substantially older than individual stems.

The protective-folklore tradition

Elder’s primary cultural register is folkloric, not working. The species sits centrally in British and Irish folk-tradition as a protective tree with substantial accumulated lore:

The Elder Mother (or Elder-Wife, Sambucus-related spirit) — a tutelary spirit understood in British and Irish folk-tradition to inhabit elder trees. Substantial regional folklore records this spirit; the tradition extends across Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia, and continental Europe.

The prohibition on burning elder wood — one of the most-cited British and Irish folk-prohibitions. Burning elder is documented as bringing bad luck, illness, or supernatural retribution across the rural tradition. The prohibition is recorded in folklore collections from across the British Isles into the twentieth century.

Protective register at thresholds — elder branches were traditionally hung at doorways, over byres, and at thresholds to ward off malign supernatural influence. The protective register pairs with rowan (see Rowan) in many regions.

Funerary register — elder appears in some British and Irish funerary traditions; the wood was sometimes used for grave-marker stakes or coffin furniture in some regional traditions.

Folk-medical register — elder has substantial folk-medical tradition: elderflower for fevers and colds, elderberry for similar purposes, elder-leaf preparations for skin conditions. The medical tradition is substantially supported by modern phytochemical research; elder contains active compounds including various flavonoids and immunomodulating substances.

For the broader folkloric-tree context, see The Cailleach, Fairy thorn taboo, and Blackthorn in Irish mythology.

The wood

Elder’s wood character is unusual:

The pithy core — elder stems have a substantial pithy core (soft spongy material) running through the centre, typically 3-8mm in diameter. The pith is much softer than the surrounding wood; working stems usually requires removing or stabilising the pith.

The outer wood — the wood surrounding the pith is surprisingly hard once properly seasoned. Janka hardness reaches around 5,500 N once the wood is fully cured — comparable to hawthorn and harder than ash.

Density — ~650 kg/m³ at 12% MC. Comparable to hawthorn and oak in mass; substantially less dense than blackthorn.

Colour — pale yellow-cream when fresh-cut. Develops to a warm honey-amber with age and handling. Less dramatic colour development than cherry but real and attractive.

Grain — fine, with the pithy core as a central feature. Working pieces typically have the pith bored out and the resulting hollow stabilised.

Working surface — once properly worked, elder takes finishing well. Hand-rubbed beeswax produces a soft warm sheen; the wood’s pale colour develops a quiet glow.

Working elder

Working elder is genuinely different from working solid woods:

Pith removal — the pithy core is typically bored out with a long auger drill. The resulting hollow can be:

• Left hollow — produces a stick lighter than its dimensions suggest; the hollow can be sealed at the ends
• Filled with wood — a tight-fitting dowel of denser wood (oak or beech) is fitted into the hollow to add weight and rigidity
• Filled with resin or wax — substantial pith-filling traditions in some regional craft work

Most working elder walking sticks have the pith bored and left hollow, with the ends sealed by the head fitting and ferrule.

Seasoning — the pithy core complicates seasoning. The pith retains moisture longer than the surrounding wood; pieces should be seasoned with the pith bored out (or with ventilation through the pith) to achieve uniform drying. Typical seasoning 18-24 months once pith is removed.

Cutting and shaping — elder works cleanly once seasoned. The hard outer wood holds detail; the bored centre allows the maker to balance the stick by adjusting where filling is placed.

Finishing — elder takes hand-rubbed oil or beeswax well. The pale colour benefits from minimal finish to preserve the natural appearance.

Elder as a walking stick

Elder walking sticks are uncommon but legitimate. The working tradition includes:

Light-weight character — a hollow elder stick is substantially lighter than equivalent solid wood. A 36-inch elder stick can weigh as little as 220-280g — lighter than ash, comparable to willow.

Protective register — elder walking sticks carry the substantial folkloric register of the elder tradition. For users culturally attached to the protective-tree tradition, an elder stick is a meaningful piece beyond its working function.

Working class register — elder was a “poor man’s wood” in some British and Irish working tradition. Available from any hedgerow; the modest material allowed working users to acquire a walking stick without commercial commission. Some surviving vintage elder sticks reflect this register.

Modern commission availability — limited. Most working Irish and British makers don’t routinely work elder; the pithy-core working is specialised and the cultural register of blackthorn or hazel typically takes priority. Buyers wanting an elder commission should ask specifically and accept that the maker may decline or charge premium pricing.

Elder beyond walking sticks

Elder has substantial folk-craft tradition beyond walking sticks:

• Pop-guns and toys — children’s pop-guns made from elder stems (using the natural pith bore) are a documented British and Irish folk tradition
• Whistles and small flutes — the hollow stem makes simple wind instruments
• Spindles and pirns — traditional spinning equipment
• Pegs and pins — small turned items for fastening or marking
• Tonewood for one specific instrument — elder pith was traditionally used as cork-substitute in some clarinet construction

The substantial folk-craft tradition reflects elder’s wide availability and the workable character once the pith is handled.

Elder compared with other British native stick woods

Within the British native woods:

• Against blackthorn — elder is lighter, less dense, less culturally weighted toward working tradition; blackthorn is the canonical Irish stick wood, elder is the protective-folklore alternative
• Against rowan — both carry protective-folklore register; elder has substantial pith-core working considerations, rowan has limited but uncomplicated working tradition
• Against ash — elder is denser once seasoned but more complicated to work; ash is the canonical working hill wood, elder is the niche alternative
• Against hazel — both produce light working sticks; hazel is simpler to work and substantially more common in working tradition

For the broader other-niche-woods context, see Other woods of note.

A note on the burning prohibition

The British and Irish folk-prohibition on burning elder wood is well-attested across the regional tradition. For working makers and users:

• Don’t burn elder offcuts — small offcuts from working elder should be composted, given to a hedge for natural decomposition, or disposed of without burning. The prohibition is substantial in cultural register and worth honouring.
• Elder sawdust similarly — should not be burnt
• The prohibition doesn’t extend to other Sambucus species universally — but practical British and Irish working tradition treats all Sambucus material similarly

The prohibition is a cultural-register matter, not a practical-safety matter (elder wood burns reasonably well; the prohibition is folkloric). Working makers respecting the tradition treat elder waste with the appropriate folk-cultural register.

Where to commission

Elder walking sticks are uncommon in working stock. Buyers wanting an elder commission should:

• Ask working makers specifically about elder availability and willingness to work the material
• Accept longer lead times — the pithy-core working takes more time and many makers don’t routinely work elder
• Expect modest pricing premium above standard ash or hazel commissions, reflecting the specialised working
• Consider whether the cultural register matters — elder is a niche choice; for buyers not attached to the protective-folklore tradition, blackthorn or hazel may suit better

For commissioning, see The makers page and Commissioning a bespoke stick. For the broader other-niche-woods discussion, see Other woods of note.