Elder: Planting, Growing, Pruning

Description and botany

Native to Europe, the elder or Sambucus is a bush that grows spontaneously in natural hedgerows and nitrogen-rich environments. It colonises fallow land and rubble.

The Sambucus genus comprises 3 main species:

• Sambucus nigra (black berries) is common throughout France, although rarer around the Mediterranean
• Sambucus racemosa (red berries, toxic when raw) which requires more moisture and coolness, inhabits mountains up to 2000m, and northern and eastern France
• Sambucus ebulus (dwarf elder). This toxic, herbaceous elder colonises embankments and riverbanks through its suckers.

Only Sambucus nigra and racemosa are used as ornamental bushes. The elder is a spreading bush, with a somewhat loose silhouette and rapid growth. Its speedy development is a great advantage for new gardens: the elder resembles a mature bush within 5 to 6 years, quickly reaching 3 to 7m in height and 2 to 4m in width. It’s the lenticels (irregularities, warts) and cracks in the bark that give it its patina.

It adapts to all types of well-drained soil, even calcareous, and thrives in sun or partial shade. It withstands temperatures down to -25°C.

The leaves are deciduous, opposite and odd-pinnate (composed of an odd number of leaflets). The ovate leaflets are more or less fine depending on the species. They are among the first leaves to appear in spring and are sought after by all sorts of insects, particularly moths whose caterpillars feed on them.

Elders, flowers and fruits, from top to bottom, Black elder (S. nigra), Red elder or “Cluster elder” (S. racemosa) and Dwarf elder (S. ebulus)

The flowers of the Black elder, Sambucus nigra, are composed of 5 stamens and 5 petals united in broad corymbs, graceful and fragrant. They droop towards the ground by late summer, whereas in the Dwarf elder (S. ebulus), these flowers stand upright. In the Red elder (S. racemosa) or “Cluster elder”, the flower petals are fused and display 5 stamens. They are grouped in elongated, ramified panicles.

Flower colour varies, being white or pink depending on the species and variety. They appear in May-June, are melliferous and nectariferous, and delight pollinating insects.

The fruits appear in late summer as pretty clusters of black berries for S.nigra and red for S.racemosa, and are edible once cooked. Beware, the fruits of the species racemosa are toxic when raw! For an orchard, choose the most productive fruit varieties like Sambucus ‘Haschberg’ or ‘Korsor’. These fruits also delight birds who disperse the seeds around.

The branches are fragile in wind as they are light, hollow and filled with white pith making them brittle. In the garden, we recommend positioning it sheltered from strong winds.

For a natural garden, choosing an elder is always wise. Sambucus plays a major role for biodiversity. It’s a veritable insect hotel: it hosts all manner of insects that feed on its flowers, leaves, fruits and branches. Its hollow wood provides them refuge. Birds pick at the fruits and nest sheltered by its dense foliage…

In town or country, the elder can be used in informal hedges, at the back of borders or to cover embankments when in bush form. It can be planted as a specimen, in sun or partial shade, accompanied by perennials and spring bulbs.

Compact varieties can be grown in pots: their light and graceful silhouette will elegantly adorn a balcony or terrace.

Species and varieties

The most popular varieties

Our favourite varieties

Sambucus nigra Black Lace - Black Elder

This elder stands out for its magnificent deep purple, almost black, finely cut foliage. Its size makes it suitable for container growing

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Sambucus nigra Pulverulenta - Black Elder

A variegated variety, with green leaves splashed with white. Ideal for a country hedge

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 3 m

See the product sheet

Sambucus nigra Thundercloud - Black Elder

Green leaves at bud burst period, later turning red-purple verging on black. Pair it with yellow foliage (Hydrangea quercyfolia Little Honey or Choisya sundance...)

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 4 m

See the product sheet

Sambucus nigra Serenade - Black Elder

A very recent variety that stands out for its fine, cut foliage which changes colour throughout the seasons. A true chameleon that will surprise you all year round.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 2 m

See the product sheet

Sambucus nigra Madonna - Black Elder

A very bright variety, with dark green foliage variegated with yellow, which will light up the shadier spots in the garden

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Sambucus racemosa Lemony Lace - European Red Elder

An elder with very finely cut, graphic and airy yellow foliage. Grown in a container, it will elegantly brighten up your terrace.

• Flowering time April, May
• Height at maturity 1,50 m

See the product sheet

Planting elder

Where to plant my elder?

The elder can be planted in any soil, in non-scorching sun or partial shade. It withstands the coldest winters (down to -25°C) and drought once established. It prefers cool locations, so in Mediterranean areas, place it in partial shade, protected from scorching sun. The soil matters little to it, though it has a preference for heavy, even clay soils.

When to plant?

October-November and March are the ideal months for planting, with a preference for autumn so the bush has time to establish before summer.

How to plant?

In the ground:

• To encourage establishment, soak the rootball by placing it in a bucket filled with water
• Dig a hole 2 to 3 times the size of the rootball
• Remove the elder from its pot and loosen the roots around the edge of the rootball
• Position the young plant in the centre of the hole so the top of the rootball (the collar) is level with the soil
• Add a mix of garden soil and compost around the rootball to fill the hole, ensuring the collar isn’t buried
• Firm with your foot and water thoroughly
• Mulch to prevent adventives
• Water once or twice a week for the first two summers

In a pot:

• Choose a pot 40 to 70 cm in diameter
• Place a drainage layer at the bottom (clay pebbles, gravel, terracotta shards)
• Fill with a mix of compost and garden soil
• Water moderately: allow the substrate to dry between waterings

Maintenance and pruning of elder

The elder is a low-maintenance bush, requiring no specific care. Potted specimens may benefit from organic fertiliser in spring.

Pruning the elder

In late summer, prune crossing branches that risk damage from rubbing against each other. This will give your elder a more balanced shape. To encourage flowering, prune old branches hard and cut back young shoots by one-third.

If you prefer to train it as a small tree, clear the lower trunk. To do this, remove lateral shoots at the base of the main branches. Also eliminate inward-growing branches to thin out the crown. This allows more light in, making your bush more floriferous.

Every 3-4 years, the elder can be hard-pruned in late winter. This maintains a bushy habit, rejuvenates growth and keeps it compact. However, excessive or overly frequent hard pruning weakens the plant, and moisture penetrating its pith-filled wood eventually damages the bush.

In late winter, you can hard-prune the elder by cutting its branches quite short

Propagation: sowing, propagation by cuttings

To propagate an elder, you can sow harvested seeds, but the young plant obtained may not necessarily match the variety from which the seeds originated. If this is important to you, opt instead for propagation by cuttings. All elder varieties can be propagated by cuttings.

Sowing

• Sow the seeds directly in place in autumn so they experience the effects of winter. Indeed, elder seeds require cold stratification to trigger germination, which occurs in spring.
• Cover with a layer of sowing compost equal to the diameter of the seed.
• Keep the substrate moist but not waterlogged.

Propagating an Elder by Cuttings

Elders root easily from cuttings in late summer. Here’s a method to follow:

• From August to September, take 20 cm sections of current-year stems with a heel of the previous year’s growth, ensuring they have at least three leaves.
• Remove the lower leaves and cut the remaining ones in half if they are too large.
• Dip the heel of the stem in cutting plant hormone powder.
• Plant the cuttings in a light, well-draining mix (half sand, half compost or specialised sowing compost).
• Cover with plastic film, a plastic bag, or create a cloche (using the top of a bottle, for example) and let them root.
• Once winter has passed, your cuttings should have rooted: transplant them into individual pots or directly into the ground.

Diseases and Pests

Elderberries are rarely susceptible to diseases. However, aphids remain their greatest enemy, especially since one species is particularly associated with them: Aphis sambuci L. That said, mature plants do not appear to be significantly affected. Only young plants that have been pruned too severely may suffer. In such cases, spraying a solution of black soap (20% black soap, 80% water) on the affected areas will gently eliminate the aphids (though beware—hoverfly larvae, major predators of aphids, are also sensitive to this treatment!).

A colony of aphids on an elderberry

Associations

The elder can be paired with a very wide range of other bushes and perennials. Highly adaptable, they will easily find their place within hedges, fill the back of borders or grace your terrace or balcony.

The great variety of elder foliage creates striking contrasts with Physocarpus or Berberis, both in shape and colour. At their base, evergreen perennials like heucheras will join the contrast game with their vast array of colours.

A vibrant border featuring Berberis thunbergii ‘Admiration’, elder ‘Lemony Lace’, Physocarpus ‘Lady in Red’ and, at their base, Heuchera ‘Pinot Gris’, black mondo grass, Heuchera ‘Caramel’ and Carex Everillo

The golden foliage (S. ‘Lemony Lace’, S. ‘Sutherland Gold’…), variegated (S. ‘Madonna’) also pairs beautifully with yellow or orange Crocosmia and Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra); the whole can be softened with blue columbines and campanulas.

For a pink and purple harmony in a border, plant Sambucus nigra ‘Black Beauty’ with pink hellebores and purple heucheras at its base, a weigela and perennial geraniums to accompany the elder’s flowering.

Another colour harmony featuring elder ‘Black Beauty’, Weigela ‘Ebony and Ivory’, Japanese Maple ‘Red Pygmy’ accompanied by Abkhazian hellebore, Geranium cinereum ‘Ballerina’, Heuchera ‘Georgia Plum’ and Heucherella ‘Solar Eclipse’

Did you know?

Elder and Humans: Benefits, Virtues and Uses of Elder.

In traditional pharmacopoeia, its bark, leaves, and flowers are used in herbal teas or decoctions.

Its name is said to come from the Greek “sambukê,” meaning flute or harp. Children can make whistles or blowguns: simply remove the pith from a twig.

Elder, a wild edible plant, is the base of many recipes: its flowers are used to make fritters, syrups, and wines, while its fruits are used in tarts and jams…

→ Discover Pascale’s elderflower fritters recipe in our tutorials!

You’ll find the elderflower lemonade recipe on the “Cueillir” association’s website and other easy and original recipes on the Wild Cuisine website.