Do you think it's really the shade that's the issue and not the Elder itself? I will tell you that Elder is suspected of inhibiting the growth of herbs, but not veggies. So, the fact that the veggies didn't make it either makes me think there isn't enough sun and that that is the problem instead.

Thanks! I've not tried veges in the area, only herbs. And if even mint won't grow around or near the elder, I'm at my wit's end!! The area gets a bit of afternoon sun in summer. It's an area that forms a sort of corridor, long and very narrow, and the elder tree is at the far end (the east), but nothing will grow at the furthest end away from it, either, although it's not affected by shade from the tree at that end. (The further up the corridor, west to east, the less sunlight gets in.) Patchouli is doing very nicely about 3 metres from the tree, in the 'sunniest' section of that area, and about 5 metres away, in the darkest position which rarely sees the sun, is a very healthy and happy peppermint geranium. I've tried marshmallow, ginger and other tropicals, costmary, various other mints, parsley, angelica, lots of other shade-lovers - even violets and lemon balm!

Wow. If mint won't grow there then I don't know what to tell you. Have you tried any of the Artemisias there?