Beauty of Sambucus: Expert Tips for Thriving Elder Plants

Elder Plants (Sambucus) are an underrated gem for gardens and landscapes. Learn how to cultivate these lovely flowering shrubs and trees, including planting tips, care requirements and using the edible flowers and berries.

Elder plants, scientifically known as Sambucus, are a wonderful addition to any garden, yet they often get overlooked in favor of more common landscaping shrubs. With their clusters of tiny, sweetly-scented white or pink blooms and bountiful crops of dark berries, elders deserve a spot in far more outdoor spaces. Not only are elder shrubs and trees attractive ornamental plants, but the flowers and berries are also edible and have been used for centuries in wines, cordials, jams and herbal remedies. Certain varieties are even suitable for growing as hedges or screens.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to successfully grow beautiful, productive elder plants in your own garden or yard. From planting instructions to care tips and harvest advice, you’ll gain the knowledge to make the most of these underrated botanical gems.

Understanding Elder Plants

Here’s a short information chart about the elder plant:

The Sambucus genus encompasses a variety of species commonly known as elder or elderberry. They are multi-stemmed shrubs or smaller trees with an abundance of small white or pale pink flowers that bloom in late spring through summer.

These flowers give way to clusters of tiny purple-black or blue berries that can be harvested for culinary or medicinal uses. The fruits are a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants.

Most elder varieties are deciduous, meaning they will lose their lush green foliage each fall before going dormant in winter. A few varieties like the Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) are evergreen in warm climates.

Some of the most popular elder species include:

• Black Elder (Sambucus nigra) – The classic European elder reaching 10-20 feet tall
• American Elder (Sambucus canadensis) – A native species perfect for naturalized areas
• Blue Elder (Sambucus caerulea) – Compact shrub producing sweet blue berries
• Scarlet Elder (Sambucus racemosa) – Showy white blooms and vivid red berries

With their attractive flower clusters, ornamental growth habits, and useful edible components, elders bring four seasons of interest to gardens and landscapes of all sizes. Many gardeners find they make an excellent choice for filling blank corners or background areas behind smaller plants.

Planting Elder Shrubs and Trees

Elders are not difficult to establish if planted properly in a suitable location. Here are some tips for planting success:

Timing

The best times to plant most elder varieties are in early spring or fall, though evergreen types can be planted year-round in mild climates. Avoid planting in the heat of summer.

Site Selection

Elderberries prefer a full sun location but will tolerate partial shade, especially in hotter regions. Make sure to choose a spot with well-draining soil that doesn’t stay soggy after rains.

Spacing

Space individual elder plants around 6-10 feet apart if not growing as a hedge. This gives them ample room to reach their full size without crowding nearby plants.

Planting Techniques

When transplanting nursery stock or bare root plants, dig a hole that is at least twice as wide and just as deep as the existing root ball.Backfill with the existing soil, firming it in gently around the roots. Don’t amend heavily with compost or fertilizer at planting time, as this can burn tender new root growth.

Water thoroughly after planting to help settle the soil and encourage root establishment. An organic mulch layer will help retain soil moisture.

Propagation

Additionally, elder shrubs and trees can be easily propagated from semi-hardwood cuttings taken in late spring or early summer. Simply root the cuttings in potting mix or directly in the ground where you want new plants.

With their adaptable nature and fast growth rate, it doesn’t take long for transplanted or propagated elders to take off and start producing flowers and berries in just a few seasons.

Caring For Elder Plants

Elder plants have a reputation for being vigorous growers that don’t require too much maintenance if started off right. Here are some key care tips:

Water

Elders perform best with consistent moisture, so aim to provide about 1 inch of water per week either from rainfall or irrigation. Established plants can tolerate some drought.

Fertilizer

Feed plants annually in early spring by top-dressing with 2-4 inches of compost, leaf mold or aged manure. Avoid overfertilizing which can promote excessive growth.

Pruning

Each year in late winter or very early spring, prune out any dead, damaged or overcrowded stems all the way down to the ground. This prevents excessive suckering and keeps growth controlled.

For hedges, shear annually in winter to maintain the desired shape and density. You can also prune off spent flower clusters after bloom to promote side shoot growth.

Cold Protection

In cooler regions, elders will likely die back to the ground over winter and regrow fresh stems in spring. Provide a protective mulch layer over the root zone once plants go dormant.

Support

As elder shrubs mature, their heavy crops of berries can become weighed down. You may need to place stakes or supports to hold up the branches, especially on hedges.

With just a little basic care and maintenance, elder plants will reward you year after year with their frothy spring blooms and abundant fruit crops.

Harvesting and Using Elder Flowers and Berries

A key benefit of growing elder plants is being able to harvest the edible flowers and berries for various culinary uses. Here are some tips:

Flowers

Elder flowers are highly fragrant and make excellent additions to teas, cordials, wines, salads and baked goods. Harvest the white or pale pink flowers once they’ve fully opened in late spring.

To preserve elder flowers, you can dry them on trays or freeze them fresh on baking sheets to use later. Remove any green stems or leaves, which can impart bitterness.

Berries

The dark purple-black or blue berries of elder plants are packed with nutrients like vitamin C. They have a sweet yet slightly tart, grape-like flavor perfect for making jams, jellies, syrups and juices.Wait to harvest berries until they are fully ripe, rich in color and just starting to droop from the clusters. Don’t eat raw, unripe berries, which can be toxic.

Cook berries briefly to remove any potential toxicity before using in recipes like elderberry pies, crisps and cobblers. The cooked berries freeze well for longer storage.

Harvesting Tips

Use clean scissors or pruners to snip off entire flower or berry clusters from the plants, then remove any stems once inside. Work from the bottom upwards to avoid stripping the bushes. Elder flowers and ripe berries will continue to develop in waves over several weeks, so plan to make multiple harvests. Collect only what you plan to use to avoid excessive waste.

The beautiful blooms and richly-colored berry clusters can make lovely decorative accents fresh or dried, in addition to their culinary uses. With both ornamental and productive value, elders are a worthy addition to any edible garden space.

Landscape Uses for Elder Plants

Beyond harvesting the flowers and fruits, elder plants have many wonderful landscape uses including:

Ornamental Specimens

With their domed, multi-stemmed growth habits and billowing summer blooms, stand-alone elder shrubs or trees are quite ornamental. They make perfect accent plants in mixed borders.

Hedges and Screens

Planted in rows, elder varieties like black elder can be sheared into tidy, fast-growing hedges or screens up to 10 feet tall. This provides both beauty and privacy.

Mass Plantings

Elders are also lovely when massed together, with their clusters of creamy blooms creating a subtle hazy effect. This works well for filling larger open areas.

Naturalized Areas

If you have a more wild garden space, native American elder makes an excellent choice for naturalizing into a low-maintenance landscape. The birds love the berries!

With their gracefully arching stems, lacy blooms and lush summer foliage, elder plants bring beauty and interest to gardens and yards of any size. Whether harvesting or simply admiring them ornamentally, these unique plants deserve a place in far more outdoor spaces across the country.

By understanding the proper planting and care needs, you’ll be able to take full advantage of these lovely yet underrated botanical gems called elder. From their productive fruits to lovely flowers