Sowing calendar · Trees and shrubs

Elder

Sambucus nigra · Sabugueiro, Saúco, Sureau noir, Schwarzer Holunder, Sambuco, sabugueira

Calendar

Calendar for mainland Portugal.

• JFMAMJJASOND
• PlantNov–Feb
• FloweringApr–Jun
• HarvestMay–Jun, Aug–Sep

Spacing

300 cm between rows · 200 cm apart

Sowing depth

0 cm

Harvest after

First crop after ~3 years

Water need

medium

Frost

hardy

Life cycle

shrub

Family

Viburnaceae

Seed saving

easy · keeps ~2 years

Notes

A native shrub found across Portugal, commonest north of the Tagus, and grown for its berries in the Távora–Varosa area; it prefers sun with some moisture at the roots. Pick the flower umbels whole in late spring for tea, cordial or fritters, and the berry clusters when they turn almost black in late summer. Use only ripe berries and always cook them (jam, syrup, juice): raw berries, leaves and stems can cause stomach upsets.

Sources

• Florestas.pt: Sabugueiro, um arbusto nativo, uma cultura com potencial

Months for mainland Portugal. In the app, sowing and planting follow your own local climate and the forecast.