Sambucus canadensis 6-12' x same. Large elderberries and fruit clusters make for easy and fast picking. Very large vigorous strong productive bush. Z3.
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Sambucus canadensis 6-8' x same. Large clusters of large dark berries. High Brix level; great for winemaking. Upright, slightly spreading habit. Z4.
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Sambucus canadensis 6-12' x same. Each grown from a cold-hardy seed and will be a totally unique plant. Some of our best plants grew from batches of such seedlings. Z3.
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Sambucus canadensis 5-10' x same. Blooms heavily and produces large elderberry crops annually. Hardy, vigorous with apparent self-fertility. Z3.
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Sambucus canadensis 6-12' x same. Fedco intro. Sourced from a wide swath of plants growing in Aroostook County. Robust elderberry with consistently high fruit yields. Z3.
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Sambucus canadensis 8-12' x same. High-yielding cultivar popular with market growers in Canada. Selected for high levels of sugar. Berries are on the small side. Showing serious vigor in our trials. Z4.
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Sambucus canadensis 6-12' x same. Vigorous consistently high-yielding elderberry cultivar. Competitive with Adams and ripens a little bit later. Z3.
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Sambucus canadensis 4-10' x same. An old reliable elderberry, considered by some to be the largest-fruited and heaviest-bearing cultivar. Rounded shrub. Z3.
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Sambucus nigra 6-8' x 2-5'. Bred for heavy fruit clusters and excellent juicing quality. High in immune-boosting anthocyanins. Upright habit, vigorous. Z4/5.
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Sambucus nigra 5-8' x 2-5'. Selected for juice production based on very high anthocyanin content and sweet flavor. Strong upright shoots. Z4/5.
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Elderberries Sambucus spp.
Elderberry trees appear in myths from days of yore, thought to possess magical and protective powers. Dangling clusters of edible purple-black berries ripen in late summer on this broad vigorous multi-stemmed shrub. The fruit is highly nutritious and medicinal. A century ago, every grandmother knew how to make the perfect elderberry pie. Recipes for jam could be found in all the old farm cookbooks. Elderberries have made a big comeback as folks rediscover the scrumptiousness of elderberry jelly, cordial, elixir and wine. The large creamy-white flower clusters, or cymes, that cover the shrub in early summer make delicious fritters. Dry them for a fragrant wintertime cold-and-flu remedy tea. For centuries, humans have used this plant’s medicinal qualities to treat a wide range of ailments and to boost the immune system. Hippocrates is said to have called the elder tree his “medicine chest.” Birds love the fruit, and the blossoms attract beneficial insects and pollinators. No serious pest or disease issues. Note: Cooking elderberries is essential to breaking down toxic cyanide-inducing glycosides in the seeds. Not for fresh eating.
American Black Elderberry S. canadensis
This species is native to North America. Hardier than the European Sambucus nigra, and fruits on first-year wood.
European Elderberry S. nigra
This species is native to Europe. The medicinal berries are extremely high in immune-boosting anthocyanins. You can use them in all of the same wonderful ways you would use the canadensis species. More tender than canadensis, but ours in Zone 4 seem to be almost as hardy. Note that nigras produce on second-year wood—prune accordingly.
Growing Elderberries
Soil: Adaptable and low maintenance, but prefers moist fertile soil. Can tolerate drier soil, poor drainage and even temporary flooding.
Sun: Full, but will tolerate some shade.
Pollination: Self-fruitful, but plant more than one variety for better yields. Canadensis and nigra species will pollinate each other.
Spacing: 6–8' apart.
Planting: Add plenty of compost to the planting hole; sidedress with compost every spring. Mulch with a thick layer of hay, leaves or wood chips to control weeds and protect shallow roots. Do not invite the elderberry borer by allowing sod to grow at the base of the plant!