Elderberries just might be a SUPER FRUIT! The berries have iron, potassium, phosphorous, and copper, as well as other vitamins, such as vitamin A, B, and C, proteins, and dietary fiber. They can be used to make wine, syrups, jams, jellies, and pies. The flowers can also be used to make elder-flower wine or fritters. Elder flower wine is a favorite to many families.
The scientific name for our elderberries is Sambucus nigra. When eating elderberries, you need to know that it is always a good idea to cook them first because they do have very small amounts of cyanide. The Sambucus nigra, doesn’t have as much as other varieties, however caution is still needed when eating the berries. Requires cross-pollination, so plant more than one for best results
Last year, after the birds took their share off our 4 year old plants, we still collected approximately 1 gallon of berries per plant.
We are selling 1 year old plants for $10 per plant.
Mature Height: 6-13 feet
Mature Spread: 6-13 feet
Light Requirements: Full to partial sun, Tolerates moderate shade
Maintenence: Minimal, but will need to cut back suckers if not wanted.
Pollination: Requires cross-pollination, so plant more than one for best results
Flowering Season: Late Spring through Summer (May-July)
Primary Usages: Edible fruit — cooked, fresh, dried, or used in preserves/jams/jellies, etc; Edible Flowers — fresh, pickled, or cooked;
Secondary Usages: wildlife, windbreak, hedge, winemaking, potential medicinal
Years to Begin Bearing: 2-4 years
Years to Maximum Bearing: 3-6 years
Years of Useful Life: No good information available, but this plant freely suckers. As one plant is starting to decline, a suckering plant can be established to take the original plant’s place.