Description
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
| 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
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