Vanessa Richins Myers is a seasoned horticulturist, writer, and educator with over 10 years of training and experience as a professional horticulturist and gardener. She growing black currants a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture, with an emphasis in landscape design and urban horticulture.
She volunteers as a community garden specialist. Learn how to grow the American elderberry, otherwise known as black elderberry, with these helpful tips on planting, maintenance, and more. Hi, I thought you might like this article from The Spruce: How to Grow American Elderberry. Best planted in early spring after the final frost, American elderberry is a moderately-fast growing bush that can reach up to 12 feet tall and 6 feet across once mature.
It can be planted outdoors successfully in USDA zones 3 through 9 and harvested once the berries are dark purple or black, typically in August or September. American elderberry is an easy-to-care-for shrub that can tolerate a variety of different growing conditions ranging from wet soil and rocky terrain to bright sun and lots of shade. The one thing they do need is plenty of water. Enough H2O will ensure that your plant not only thrives and grows but produces lots of berries. For the first few years of growing American elderberry, just focus on allowing your bush to get established. The berries are quite sour on their own, so if you opt to make them into a jam or pie, you’ll want to use lots of sugar. Additionally, the small white flowers on the plant, which form in a cluster called a cyme, can be used to make wine, cordials, and syrups.
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American elderberry can be grown in a variety of different sun locations, making it an ideal pick for nearly any spot in your yard or landscape. Though it can handle it all, it prefers a spot that boasts full sun or partial shade. For the most successful bush, plant your American elderberry in a soil that is humusy and moist. When it comes to the American elderberry, drought is pretty much the one thing it cannot tolerate. American elderberry isn’t picky about its temperature conditions, given its wide range of hardiness zones. That being said, it’s a plant that would much rather be cool and moist than hot and dry.