American Elderberry, Sambucus - Plant

Good accent shrub featuring deeply incised leaves, attractive flowers and interesting fruits. Elderberries are popular for their unusual taste in pies, jellies, and jams. They are occasionally used in winemaking. The plants are very hardy (usually to Zone 4 but some kinds to Zone 3), and because they flower in late June, the crop is seldom damaged by late spring frost.

Plant Specifications

*above specification are indicative only. actual dimensions may vary by +-10%

• Common Name: elderberry, black elder, European elder
• Maximum Reachable Height: 5.00 to 8.00 feet
• Flower Colour: white or cream-colored flowers
• Bloom Time: June to July
• Difficulty Level: easy to grow

Planting and care

The most difficult problem faced when growing elderberries is weed control. Because they have shallow roots, do not cultivate deeper than 2 inches. After the first year, it is best to avoid disturbing the soil at all because the slightest injury can damage the fibrous root system or kill one of the new upright shoots. Use a combination of pulling weeds by hand while they are still small, mowing and mulching to control weeds without disturbing the elderberry roots. Once you develop a thick hedgerow of plants, elderberries can suppress weeds quite well.

American Elderberry care

Elderberries grow best in moist, fertile, well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5, but will tolerate a wide range of soil texture, fertility, and acidity.
It s a myth that they prefer swampy areas.
In fact, they do not tolerate poor drainage.
Plant elderberries in spring, as soon as possible after they arrive from the nursery to prevent plants from drying out.

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
• Watering: Medium to wet
• Soil: well-drained soil
• Temperature: Room temperature

Fertilizer
Elderberries respond well to fertilization. In addition to incorporating manure or compost before planting, apply additional fertilizer annually in early spring.
Apply 1/8 pound of ammonium nitrate (or .5 lbs. 10-10-10) for each year of the plant s age, up to one pound per plant (or up to 4 lbs. 10-10-10).

American Elderberry special feature
Elderberries are one of the easiest and most versatile shrubs to grow in your edible landscape
American Elderberry uses

Ornamental Use

Landscape specimen, shrub borders, screens, backgrounds, stream/pond peripheries or low spots
Good sprawling hedge

Medicinal Use

Elderberries are an excellent general immune system booster
With elderberrys anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it makes sense that it can help sinus issues
Both the flower and the berry have traditionally been used to treat diabetes
Elder has been shown to promote both urination and bowel moments
Elderberry may also help with constipation
etc

• Culinary Use: The elderberry bush or elderberry tree yields the berries that are commonly used in syrups, jams and wine