Sambucus
( sam - BEW - kuss )
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At-A-Glance InformationSambucus, commonly called Elder, Elderflower or Elderberry, is a genus of fruiting deciduous shrubs and trees that needs full sun to light shade and regular water for best performance. The berries will attract birds to your yard, and the preceding flowers will bring in pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies. Take care when planting Elderberry in your garden, as the raw fruit of some species can cause upset stomach if ingested. Elderberry is grown for both their flowers and berries, and are also valued for their use as screening plants and windbreaks.
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Fun Fact: The Elder Wand, featured in the Harry Potter series of books and movies, is made from the wood of this genus of flowering shrubs and trees.
Sambucus Species and Varietals
The genus Sambucus includes 10 species and is a member of the plant family Adoxaceae. The genus was previously classified in the plant family Caprifoliaceae, but was moved due to genetic and morphological comparisons. The best growing zones for Elderberry vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Sambucus canadensis (Sambucus nigra canadensis) (American Elderberry) This species grows well in zones A1-A3, 1-7 and 14-17 They are native to the central and eastern areas of North America and do well in cold-winter climates. American Elderberry has a suckering, spreading habit and can reach 12 feet tall and just as wide. Summer flowers are cream-colored and bloom in flat clusters. Blooms are followed by purple-black berries that are great in pies and for flavoring wines. Varieties include 'Adams', 'Aurea' (with golden-green foliage and red berries), and 'York'. All three of these varieties produce wonderful fruits. |
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Sambucus nigra (Black Elder, European Elder)
This species can be grown as either a shrub or a tree, and is best in zones 2-7 and 14-17. Black Elder is native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. It is a shrubby but upright growth to 20-30 feet tall and just as wide. Flowers are fragrant and white, blooming in clusters in late spring to early summer. Berries that follow are purplish-black and are great for syrups, jams, wines, and pies. Varieties are listed and described below.
This species can be grown as either a shrub or a tree, and is best in zones 2-7 and 14-17. Black Elder is native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. It is a shrubby but upright growth to 20-30 feet tall and just as wide. Flowers are fragrant and white, blooming in clusters in late spring to early summer. Berries that follow are purplish-black and are great for syrups, jams, wines, and pies. Varieties are listed and described below.
'Aurea'
10-20 feet tall with yellow-green foliage. |
'Guincho Purple'
Reaches 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide, with green foliage that matures to purple and reddens in fall; flowers are white blushed with pink. |
'Black Beauty' ('Gerda')
Retains dark foliage throughout the year), |
'Aureomarginata'
With yellow-edged green leaves. |
'Laciniata'
With finely cut green foliage |
'Marginata'
('Albovariegata', 'Variegata') Green leaves are bordered with creamy white. |
'Madonna'
To 4-5 feet tall, a more compact selection with green leaves variegated with light green to chartreuse when new, white, yellow, or grey-green when mature. |
'Pulverulenta'
New leaves are white, maturing to green irregularly striped and marked with white. |
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Sambucus nigra caerulea (Sambucus mexicana) (Blue Elderberry) This species is best in zones 2-24 and H1, and is a shrub or tree native to California to British Columbia, and eastward to the Rocky Mountains. It reaches 10-30 feet tall and 8-20 feet wide, with white to cream flowers that bloom in clusters i spring and summer. Berries follow; blue with a whitish powder on them. The fruit is commonly used in pies, jams, jellies and wine. It is drought-tolerant, but will perform and fruit better if given moderate waterings. |
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Caring for and pruning sambucus shrubs
Elderberry shrubs prefer full sun, but can take some shade especially in warmer climates. To maximize berry production, plant in a location that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Plant in well-draining loamy soil that is slightly acidic to neutral (general preferred pH range is between 5.0 and 8.0). Required soil acidity varies depending on the species grown; check specific requirements before planting your shrub. Keep soil consistently moist, especially during dry spells and while the plant is in flower and producing fruits. Water deeply and evenly to encourage a moist root zone. Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of your Sambucus shrub to increase soil moisture retention and suppress the growth of weeds. These shrubs do not need to be fertilized, but they can benefit from a yearly feeding with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in springtime if soil is particularly poor.
Elderberry can get leggy if not pruned; to keep shrubs with a more dense habit, prune hard while they are dormant. Cut old wood back to the ground, and the last year's growth down to just a few inches. The types that can be grown as trees will need a little bit of staking and support in their early years to form either single or multiple trunked plants, and lower branches that form will need to be pruned off to keep the form. Birds are often attracted to the berries, which is not an issue if you are not planning on harvesting them, but if you are, it is a good practice to net the shrub.
Harvesting Sambucus Shrubs
These shrubs produce Elderberries that are used to flavor various dishes and beverages. The berries can be harvested when they are fully ripe and dark in color. Harvest the entire cluster of berries at this time and remove the stems before using them in cooking or preserving them.
Elderberry can get leggy if not pruned; to keep shrubs with a more dense habit, prune hard while they are dormant. Cut old wood back to the ground, and the last year's growth down to just a few inches. The types that can be grown as trees will need a little bit of staking and support in their early years to form either single or multiple trunked plants, and lower branches that form will need to be pruned off to keep the form. Birds are often attracted to the berries, which is not an issue if you are not planning on harvesting them, but if you are, it is a good practice to net the shrub.
Harvesting Sambucus Shrubs
These shrubs produce Elderberries that are used to flavor various dishes and beverages. The berries can be harvested when they are fully ripe and dark in color. Harvest the entire cluster of berries at this time and remove the stems before using them in cooking or preserving them.
Propagation
Sambucus can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrubs, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Sambucus by Cutting
Propagating Sambucus by Seed
Propagating Sambucus by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Propagating Sambucus by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seeds produced by Sambucus shrubs are contained inside the fruits produced. Harvest berries when they are ripe, and remove the seeds from their berries. Set the seeds aside until you are ready to work with them.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Sambucus seeds are contained inside the berries that the shrub produces.
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Sambucus seeds.
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Problems and Pests
Sambucus plants are susceptible to the following problems:
- Aphids
- Spider Mites
- Scale Insects
- Fungal Diseases
Gallery
These shrubs and trees have a beautiful habit, and can really add depth in landscapes.
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Varieties with dark foliage stand out against green backdrops.
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Sambucus does well amongst other shrubs, like Hostas.
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Videos
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How to prune and propagate your Elderberry shrub.
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All about Elderberry shrubs.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 589 - 590, Sambucus
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