Elderberry

Elderberry: Versatile Medicinal Shrub

(Sambucus canadensis)

Elderberry is a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree prized for its edible flowers and berries, as well as its medicinal properties. Native to Europe and North America, this hardy plant offers both culinary and ecological benefits.

Growing 6-12 feet tall, elderberries produce large, flat clusters of tiny white flowers in late spring, followed by small, dark purple berries in late summer. The flowers can be used to make cordials or fritters, while the berries are commonly used in jams, syrups, and medicinal preparations.

Elderberries thrive in full sun to partial shade and prefer moist, well-drained soil. They’re hardy in USDA zones 3-8 and are relatively fast-growing. The shrubs provide excellent habitat for wildlife, attracting birds and beneficial insects.

One of elderberry’s key advantages is its immune-boosting properties. The berries are rich in antioxidants and have been traditionally used to combat colds and flu. The plant also has a history of use in natural dyes and crafts. Berries should be cooked before eating.

At Humble Abode Nursery, we offer bare-root elderberry plants propagated from hardy, productive cultivars. Our stock is grown using sustainable practices to ensure healthy, vigorous specimens.

We cultivate elderberries as part of our commitment to promoting multi-functional plants that support both human health and ecosystem diversity. This versatile shrub offers an opportunity to combine food production, medicinal benefits, and wildlife support in your landscape.

Consider adding elderberries to your property if you’re interested in growing your own medicinal plants, want to attract wildlife, or are looking to expand your repertoire of edible landscape plants.

Variety Info: 

• Marge—One of my favorites. It’s a hybrid American/European elderberry with the best qualities of both, great vigor, health, and production.
• Nova—Introduced by the Nova Scotia Experiment Station in 1946. Open-pollinated seedling of ‘Adams’. More compact, tops out at around 6-8 feet. Large flavorful berries.
• Wyldewood—new variety, released in 2010 by the University of Missouri. Extra-huge flower heads! It’s a good one.
• York—Large-fruited, heavy-bearing, reliable producer.
• Bob Gordon— Another newer variety released in 2011, one of the sweetest elderberries available.
• Adams— Released in 1926, this variety has been a gold standard for decades. Productive and vigorous multi-stemmed shrub.
• Johns—Large fruits and large clusters, it is another tough and pretty ornamental that can tolerate wet sites.
• Ranch—More compact, topping out at around 6’, great for smaller spaces. Apparently one of the hardiest as well.
• Samyl—(S. nigra) a European variety bred in Denmark for its anthocyanin content, flavor, upright shoots, juiciness, among other positive attributes.
• Samdal—(S. nigra) another European variety from the same breeding program in Denmark.
• Goodbarn—This elderberry was named by the great plant breeder Elwyn Meader because it was a good elderberry growing under the eaves of his barn.
• Kent—a popular variety in Canada, tolerates higher latitude and short growing season.
• Laceleaf—an elegant and beautiful form of elderberry with deeply cut feathery dissected leaves. Produces great berries as well!

Additional Growing Info:
—They’re tolerant of somewhat wet soils.
—Super easy to propagate, stick a hardwood (dormant) cutting in some garden soil and you’ll likely get a new plant.