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Just tried to add a picture but failed. We have a lovely tree outside our new house that we thought was an elder. We got very excited as it started to flower, planning lots of elderflower cordial. However, a closer look and quick consultation of the tree book suggests its a rowan. Any tips how to tell them apart? Can I make rowan flower cordial??

Thanks, Cath

Oh and how do I add an image to my post? I tried to copy and paste without success.

Pictures are easy ... when you know how
When you post, below the box you are writing in there are two tabs "Options" & "Upload attachment".
Click on "Upload attachment" and choose the file in the box and then click "Add the file", if your picture is small(ish), say 640 x 480, it will display on the posting, if it's bigger it will be a clickable link.
Then choose "Place inline" and your picture will be wherever you want it in your text (wherever your cursor is at the time), otherwise it will appear at the bottom of your post.

Without seeing a picture I would point out that elder usually has wrinkly rough bark where a rowan has fairly smooth bark plus crushed elder leaves smell a bit disgusting, but a picture would clinch it.

Hope that helps.

I can't do pictures either.
It's unusual to see an Elder much more than say 20ft,whereas a Rowan will do FAR more.There you have it the former is really a large shrub,the latter a tree.So you will find that an Elder tends to be 'shrubby' in appearance for a number of years.Tony's spot on about the bark,and the Elder leaves are much softer and a more defined green.Both are rather pleasant,if there's room,plant whichever you don't have!!

Still trying to upload a picture, found the attachment place, thanks Tony but my image is too big. Just got a new computer with new software and its taking a while to get used to.

The tree is probably about 20 ft but the bark looks quite rough. Hmmmm..

I will persevere with the pics, best way to get a definitive answer.

Be back soon...

If the tree's that big, you shouldn't have any trouble distinguishing elder from rowan - the leaves are MARKEDLY different, as is the growth habit. Just use Google Images - you'll know immediately.

Mike

if it is an elder it will have more than one trunk normally with is being a shrub rather than a tree

Hope this picture makes it....
What do you think? Not sure if the picture is good enough for a proper id.

It does have more than one trunk. The flowers are coming out now. Fingers crossed for elderflower!

Definitely looks like an elder to me. If there are any flowers that are going brown, smell them. They often smell of cat's wee when going over.

Another elder vote.

Mike

All good news....

I've been looking round on the internet and I have found it hard to tell the difference between the elder and rowan leaves and flowers. We had a sniff of the flowers today and they smelled very nice and I read that Rowan flowers smell of rotting meat to attract flies which pollinate them. Which made me wonder again about our tree because I have noticed lots of flies around it and not many bees.

Maybe I will just have to buy lots of lemons and sugar this week and have a go.

Thanks for all your help everyone.

Looks like Elder to me too!

The berries'll be a dead giveaway.

Mike

Thats an Elder.

Useless aside.
Growers of over-wintering or early broad beans,will be all to aware of the blackfly .A couple of weeks before they hit the beans ,they can usually be found on the fresh elder growth,so you could lessen their numbers before they do any serious damage.(I know you can pinch out the tops of the beans,but I like to eat these,preferably without added protein!)

That's definitely Elder. Our flowers opened this week, so elderflower cordial is now under way. Lovely smell.