How to Grow American Elderberry

The American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is a deciduous shrub, hghly prized for purple-black berries that make tasty jams, pies and wine. The fast-growing shrub doubles as a welcome habitat for many squirrels and birds. The elderberry is easy to grow and ideally suited for the naturalized and wildlife garden.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• American elderberry
• Shovel
• Knife or garden shears
• Water
• Mulch or other organic material

1. Identify the planting site. Elderberry is best grown in full sun in moist, rich soil. It will adapt to almost any soil type and partial shade. Choose a site that allows for the shrub's fast growth and spreading.

2. Prepare the planting hole. Dig the planting hole 2 to 3 times the width of the shrub's rootball and equal in depth. When planted, the top of the rootball should be even with the surrounding ground.

3. Prepare the shrub for planting. Remove the elderberry from the container by tapping the bottom and "teasing" the shrub out. Prepare balled-and-burlapped specimens by removing all the twine and wire and half of the burlap covering the rootball. If planting is delayed, keep the elderberry watered.

4. Position the shrub. Place the shrub in the planting hole and add a small portion of the original soil to secure it. Fill the planting hole with water and allow the rootball and surrounding soil to absorb the moisture. Backfill the remaining soil and water again.

5. Dress the planting site. Spread a layer of mulch 2- to 4-inches deep around the shrub and planting area. Depending on where this shrub is planted, this step is optional. American elderberry is often planted in naturalized locations where mulching is unnecessary.

Tips & Warnings

• American elderberry can be successfully grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9.
• At maturity, the elderberry attains a height of 6 to 12 feet and a width of 6 to 10 feet. The shrub spreads by above-ground suckers which should be pruned regularly to contain the plant in the traditional home landscape and maintain a rounded form. Prune in early spring and summer.
• 10-inch clusters of tiny fragrant cream-colored flowers cover the shrub in summer in summer and the dark purple fruit appears in late summer. If growing the shrub for its fruit, look for the cultivars "Adams" or "York." Both are heavy fruit producers.
• To encourage a good fruit crop, remove old branches and any broken or insect-damaged branches in spring and summer. Flowering occurs on the young wood and produces a better crop of berries.
• The elderberry can produce so much fruit that the clusters will weigh down the branches and may cause them to break. To harvest the berries, cut the whole cluster from the branch and gently shake it over a bucket.