Also known as Snowball Tree, Queen's Cushion, May Ball, Tisty-Tosty and European Cranberry Bush. Deciduous. Tree produces clusters of white flowers, followed by red berries. The berries are popular with birds and the flowers with butterflies and hoverflies. The name "guelder" comes from Gueldersland, a Dutch province, where the tree was first cultivated. Found in the wild in woodland margins, scrub, marshes and hedgerows. Will tolerateds wet, boggy situations and exposed, windy sites. Tree has also been called Swamp or Water Elder because it produces Elder-like fruit and likes damp.

In Ukranian folk medicine the bark is stripped and dried and will keep for four years. Known as Kalyna in the Ulkraine. Infusions and teas were made from the bark, flowers or berries. Bark tea was good for stopping bleeding. Infusion of flowers for coughs, asthma, stomach problems, TB, colds.

The berries turn black when dried and have been used for making ink. The wood has been used in the making of skewers.

The bark is known as Cramp Bark and is used as a nerve sedative and anti-spasmodic in asthma. Decoctions and infusions have been used in the treatment of cramps, spasms, fits and lockjaw. Cramp Bark was used by the Native American Indians for mumps.

CAUTION - LEAVES, BARK AND BERRIES POISONOUS

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