Elder: planting, growing, pruning

Description and Botany

Originating from Europe, elder or Sambucus is a bush that grows spontaneously in natural hedges and nitrogen-rich environments. It occupies fallow land and debris.

The genus Sambucus includes 3 main species:

• Sambucus nigra (black berries) is common throughout France, although it becomes rarer around the Mediterranean
• Sambucus racemosa (red berries, toxic when raw) which requires more moisture and coolness, populates the mountains up to 2000 m, in the north and east of France
• Sambucus ebulus (herbaceous elder). This toxic herbaceous elder colonises slopes and riverbanks thanks to its suckers.

Only Sambucus nigra and racemosa are used as ornamental bushes. The elder is a spreading bush, with a somewhat blurred silhouette and rapid growth. The speed at which it develops is a great advantage for new gardens: the elder resembles an adult bush after 5 to 6 years, quickly reaching heights of 3 to 7 m and widths of 2 to 4 m. It is the lenticels (irregularities, warts) and cracks in the bark that give it its patina.

It adapts to all types of 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 that feed on them.

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

The flowers of the Black elder, Sambucus nigra, consist of 5 stamens and 5 petals gathered in large corymbs, graceful and fragrant. They droop towards the ground at the end of summer, while in the case of the Herbaceous elder (S. ebulus), these flowers are upright towards the sky. In the case of the Red elder (S. racemosa) or “Clustered elder”, the petals of the flowers are fused and feature 5 stamens. They are grouped in an elongated and branched panicle.

The colour of the flowers varies; they are 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 at the end of summer in the form of lovely clusters of black berries for S. nigra and red for S. racemosa, and are edible when cooked. Beware, the fruits of the species racemosa are toxic when raw! For an orchard, one should choose the most productive fruit varieties such as Sambucus ‘Haschberg’ or ‘Korsor’. These fruits are also a treat for birds that disperse the seeds around.

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

For a natural garden, choosing an elder will always be wise. Sambucus plays a significant role in biodiversity. It serves as a hotel for insects by itself: it shelters all sorts of insects that feed on its flowers, leaves, fruits, and branches. Its hollow wood offers a refuge. Birds nibble on the fruits and nest safely among its dense foliage…

In both urban and rural settings, the elder is used in free hedges, at the back of flower beds, or to adorn slopes when in bush form. It can be planted alone, in sun or partial shade, accompanied by perennials and spring bulbs.

The smaller 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 elderberry stands out for its magnificent dark purple, almost black, finely cut foliage. Its size allows it to be grown in a pot

• 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. It is ideal for a country hedge

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

See the product sheet

Sambucus nigra Thundercloud - Black Elder

The green leaves at the bud burst period then turn purple-red approaching 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 finely 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 brighten up the darker areas of the garden

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

See the product sheet

Sambucus racemosa Lemony Lace - European Red Elder

An elderberry with very finely cut, graphic, and light yellow foliage. Grown in a pot, it will elegantly illuminate your terrace.

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

See the product sheet

Planting elderberry

Where to plant my elderberry?

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

When to plant?

October-November and March are the preferred months for planting, with a preference for autumn so that the bush has time to settle in before summer.

How to plant?

In the ground:

• To facilitate recovery, hydrate the root ball by placing it in a basin filled with water
• Dig a hole 2 to 3 times the size of the root ball
• Remove the elderberry from its pot and untangle the roots from the perimeter of the root ball
• Place the plant in the centre of the hole so that the top of the root ball (the collar) is level with the soil
• Add a mixture of garden soil and potting soil around the root ball to fill the hole, ensuring that the collar is not buried
• Firm down with your foot and water generously
• Mulch to prevent adventive plants
• Water once or twice a week for the first two summers

In a pot:

• Choose a pot with a diameter of 40 to 70 cm
• Spread a layer of drainage at the bottom (clay balls, gravel, broken terracotta)
• Fill with a mixture of potting soil and garden soil
• Water moderately: allow the substrate to dry out between waterings

Elderberry maintenance and pruning

Elder is a low-maintenance bush that does not require specific care. Potted specimens can receive an application of organic fertiliser in spring.

Pruning Elder

At the end of summer, prune the crossing branches that may injure each other by rubbing against one another. This will make your elder more harmonious. To encourage flowering, prune back old branches and cut young shoots back by a third.

If you prefer to shape it into a small tree, clear the base of the trunk. To do this, cut the lateral shoots at the base of the main branches. Also, remove the branches that grow inward to aerate the crown. This will promote light entry and make your bush more floriferous.

Every 3-4 years, elder can be cut back hard at the end of winter. This operation helps maintain a bushy shape, rejuvenates it, and keeps it contained. However, very short and too frequent prunings can exhaust it, and moisture that seeps into its pith eventually damages the bush.

Olivier explains it in detail in How to prune an elder or Sambucus for beautiful flowering?

At the end of winter, you can cut back elder by pruning its branches quite short

Multiplication: sowing, propagation by cuttings

To propagate a elderberry, you can sow the harvested seeds, but the resulting plant may not necessarily conform to the variety from which the seeds were taken. If this is important to you, it is better to opt for propagation by cuttings. All varieties of elderberry can be propagated by cuttings.

Sowing

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

Propagating an elderberry by cuttings

Elderberry is easily propagated by cuttings at the end of summer. Here is a method to follow:

• From August to September, take sections of current year’s stems with a heel of last year’s shoot, about 20 cm long, with at least three leaves,
• Remove the leaves from the base and cut the others in half if they are too large,
• Dip the heel of the cutting in rooting hormone powder,
• Plant the cuttings in a light, well-drained mix (half sand, half compost or special seed compost),
• Cover with a film, a plastic bag, or make a cloche using the top part of a bottle, for example, and let them root
• Once winter has passed, your cuttings should be rooted: transplant them into individual pots or directly into the ground.

Diseases and Pests

Elderberries are not very susceptible to diseases. However, aphids are their biggest enemy, especially since one species is specifically associated with them, Aphis sambuci L. Nevertheless, adult plants do not seem to be affected. Only young plants that are pruned too severely may suffer from this. In this case, a solution of black soap (20% black soap, 80% water) sprayed on the affected areas will gently eliminate the aphids (but be careful, hoverfly larvae, which are great predators of aphids, are also sensitive to this treatment!).

A colony of aphids on an elderberry

Associations

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

The great variety of foliage of elder provides stunning contrasts with Physocarpus or Berberis, both in shape and colour. At their feet, evergreen perennials like heucheras will contribute to the contrast with their wide array of colours.

A colourful bed featuring Berberis thunbergii ‘Admiration’, Elder ‘Lemony Lace’, Physocarpus ‘Lady in Red’, and at their feet, Heuchera ‘Pinot Gris’, Black Ophiopogon, Heuchera ‘Caramel’, and Carex Everillo

Golden foliage (S. Lemony Lace, S. Sutherland Gold…), variegated (S. Madonna) also pairs well with yellow or orange Crocosmia and Japanese grasses (Hakonechloa macra); all can be tempered by columbines and blue campanulas.

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

Another colour harmony with Elder ‘Black Beauty’, Weigela ‘Ebony and Ivory’, Japanese Maple ‘Red Pygmy’ accompanied by Abchasian 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 thought to come from the Greek “sambukê,” which means flute or harp. Children can make whistles or blowpipes: simply remove the pith from a branch.

Wild-edible elder is the basis for many recipes: with the flowers, fritters, syrups, and wines are made, and with the fruits, tarts and jams…

→ Discover the recipe for elderflower fritters by Pascale in our tutorials!

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