The Difference Between Juniper Berries & Elderberries

Berry Form

• Junipers encompass a large number of evergreen shrubs and trees that belong to the conifer genus. Juniper berries are fleshy seed cones that form along the stems of juniper branches. The fleshy scales on these tiny juniper cones coalesce or fuse to form a waxy, berry-like structure, containing seeds. Easy to grow and deciduous with attractive foliage, elderberry shrubs bloom with large, fragrant, flat-topped flower sprays made up of small, white, creamy-white or pink flowers, followed by the formation of clusters of glossy, dark berries that are best harvested in late summer.

Color

• Juniper berries are green when young, but turn bluish-gray or reddish-brown when mature, depending on the juniper variety. The large clusters of elderberries are blue, purple-black or red. Blue and purplish elderberries are edible, but the red berries, borne by the red elderberry shrub (Sambucus racemosa), growing in USDA zones 4 through 9, are toxic.

Size

• The berry-like cones of juniper shrubs mature in about 12 months. At maturity, the size of most juniper berries is about 1/6 to 1/2 inch. The sprays or clusters of elderberries are about 6 to 10 inches wide, while the individual purplish-black berries are only 1/6 to 1/4 inch big. Birds find the size of both types of berries ideal for munching. Because elderberry shrubs are almost completely self-unfruitful, you need at least two different varieties to produce berries.

Culinary Uses

• The young, but fully grown, green juniper berries are used to flavor gin, and Europeans also use the berries to flavor cabbage and meat dishes, such as pork and game. Juniper berries provide a sharp, clean taste. The blue and purple elderberries make tasty jams, pies, jellies, syrup and elderberry wine. Dried or fresh elderberries also make a flavorful herbal tea. Uncooked elderberries are usually too astringent for fresh eating. The best time to harvest elderberries is August or September, depending on elderberry variety.