Elderberry Vs. Hemlock

Nature is so mysterious. 

Why she would create two plants that look so much alike, but one nourishes you and another poisons you is beyond me! (Actually, believe it or not, Elderberry can poison you as well)

Elderberry Vs. Hemlock.

In this blog, I want to teach you how to carefully identify the differences between Elderberry & Water Hemlock so that you can be 100% sure what you are looking at and working with when out in the woods! 

Elderberry, in the Sambucus family, is pretty well known for the medicine it offers us from the berries, flowers, and even the bark! Historically, the bark of this plant has been used to make instruments like flutes - blessing us with the gift of music!

What is interesting, and not spoken about enough in my opinion, is that elderberries can be toxic and even deadly if not prepared properly! Raw, unripe elderberries contain cyanide-producing substances that can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and more. 

Cooking these berries or making tea will neutralize these substances and render the berries safe for consumption. 

Remember - the difference between medicine and poison is DOSAGE. 

A berry or two will not cause harm, though it is still best to prepare the berries first. 

The berries are known for stimulating the immune system to prevent colds & flus. 

I recommend that anyone with an auto-immune disorder to exercise caution when working with the berries, preferably working with an experienced herbalist to ensure the berries are going to be supportive. 

If you did not catch it in time and you have already developed a cold or a flu, I personally do not recommend working with the berries but rather the flowers! 

Elder Flowers are very supportive in opening the pores of the skin and stimulating perspiration - this helps to cleanse our blood & lymphatic system, clearing these fluids of toxins and debris and help our body to defend itself from pathogens. 

Water Hemlock, in the Cicuta family, has a rich folklore that often links it to witchcraft and dark magic. Stories like these help to scare children and work to prevent them from eating this plant when their parents are not looking. 

Water Hemlock contains a chemical called cicutoxin. This toxic chemical is known to cause delirium, abdominal pain, nausea, seizures, and intense vomiting with many cases resulting in death. 

There is so much that you can learn about each of these plants - and I encourage you to do some research and read all that you can find! 

My main focus is to show you the difference between these two plants.

Here we go! 

One of the easiest ways for me to identify Elder vs. Hemlock is to look at the trunk and stems of the plant! Pictured below you will be able to see the difference. Elderberry shrub has a more woody, dense stem. You will notice the woody & bumpy texture with the elderberry plants. 

Water Hemlock has a more smooth & celery-like texture to their trunks, along with a dark to light purple color.

Pictured below on the left is the trunk of the elderberry, and on the right is that of hemlock.

Again, this is the most sure way for me to know the difference between these two plants. Some other ways to identify the difference includes:

• Smell: Elderberry shrubs have a floral and slightly pungent smell and hemlock smells more like carrot.

  
  

• Stem: Elderberry stems are more dense, where Hemlock stems are hollow.

  
  

• Fruit: Elderberry produces berries, Hemlock produces seeds.

  
  

• Leaf Arrangement: Elderberry leaves are opposite, Hemlock leaves are alternate.

That's it for now! Thank you so much for reading this. I hope that you gained something of values that you can carry into the woods with you.

Remember,

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You Nourish your Community!

• DISCLAIMER

I am not a botanist. I am a medical herbalist with a passion for plants. I write these articles to share with those who join us on our Foraging for Friends plant walks and anyone else who has an interest in learning more about plants and trees that grow near us! There are many fantastic resources out there and I highly recommend you explore some listed here as well as others you will find on your own!