Dwarf elder (danewort)

About

Dwarf elder grows throughout Ukraine: on hills, forest edges, and slopes, and is also found in the Carpathians. Spreading through rhizomes, it forms dense thickets that are visible from afar.

Despite its similarity to black elder, it is not a bush but a perennial herb 50–150 cm tall, sometimes up to 2 m. Every winter, the stems die back to the ground, and in spring they regrow from the rhizome. The stems are upright, usually unbranched. The leaves are opposite, pinnate, with 5–9 pointed leaflets, and have a sharp unpleasant smell when crushed. It blooms in June — July, with small white flowers having a pinkish tint, gathered in flat umbels. The berries are small shiny black drupes that ripen in autumn.

The entire plant is poisonous, especially the seeds. The berries can cause poisoning, so they should not be eaten or added to jams, liqueurs, or syrups made from black elder. Special care should be taken with children: the berries are shiny and attractive in appearance.

It is not difficult to distinguish between the two elders. Black elder is a true bush or small tree with woody trunks and light-colored bark with lenticels, and its ripe berries hang down in heavy clusters. Dwarf elder has a herbaceous stem without bark, which disappears in winter, while the umbels with black berries stand upright at the tops of the stems. The smell is also a warning: the leaves of dwarf elder stink when crushed.

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Slovakia · Hungary · Czechia · Romania · Ukraine · Poland · Austria · Serbia

Mountain ranges

Strážov Mountains, Slovak Ore Mountains, Slovak Central Mountains, Low Tatras, White Carpathians, Lesser Fatra, Kremnica Mountains, Považský Inovec, Kysuce Beskids, Sądecki Beskids

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Safety

The entire plant is poisonous, especially the berries and seeds. Do not collect berries for food or jam. Do not give unfamiliar berries to children. In case of suspected poisoning, call 103 (or 112).

Look-alikes — how to tell them apart

Protection and rules

Not protected.

FAQ