Elderberry Plant - Sambucus canadensis

The Elderberry Plant is a deciduous shrub native to North America, Venezuela and Brazil. In a natural environment, it can be found growing in disturbed areas, streams, marshes and forests.

The leaves of this shrub are sharply serrated and bright green in color. In the fall, the shrub loses its leaves and exposes its pale-gray to reddish stems for the winter months. This shrub flowers in the summer time producing clusters of densely packed white flowers. They are enticing to pollinators, making this shrub an ideal plant to add to a pollinator garden.

Plant Details - Elderberry Plant

Family: Adoxaceae

Hardiness Zones: 3–9

Light Requirement: Full sun to partial shade

Water Needs: Moderate to high

Height: 6 - 12 ft

Spread: 6 - 10 ft

Growth Rate: Fast

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Flower Color: Creamy white

Fruit: Small, glossy dark purple to black berries

Wildlife Value: Flowers attract bees and butterflies

The flowers of the Elderberry Plant are lemon scented and come forth profusely in the summer months. The flowers are quite tiny; however, they are delightfully beautiful on closer inspection. The star-shaped flowers produce five bright white petals and have prominent stamens that are soft yellow in color.

Once pollinated, purply-black drupes are formed. The fruit is edible and is commonly used to make jams and added to pancakes and pies. The flowers and fruit can even use it to make elderberry wine. This shrub is a versatile plant in the garden. It can be planted to form a hedge, in a woodland, or showy addition to a stream or pond bank. Due to its prolific flowering and fruit production, it is a magnet for wildlife, particularly birds.

Landscape Uses and Maintenance - Elderberry Plant

Plant this shrub in either full sun to partial shade locations. Best flowering will be achieved in full sun locations. This shrub prefers moist, rich, slightly acidic soils, but can tolerate different soil conditions. While this shrub is quite resilient, it can be susceptible to canker and powdery mildew.

Due to its growth habits, it can be a weedy plant and is best planted away from an area that you desire to remain manicured. If suckers are not removes, this plant will spread and form thickets of dense stems.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Prolific flowering, edible fruit, attracts pollinators and wildlife

Add this showy and useful edible shrub to your gardenscape and enjoy beautiful flowers, and delicious fruit year after year. Shop for the Elderberry Plant online at TN Nursery. For 68 years, we have served the landscaping industry and homeowners with specimen plants.

This Is How Your Plants Will Look upon Delivery

Bloom Season

Summer

Bloom/Foliage Color

White

Height at Maturity

Over 10 Feet

Care

Elderberry bushes thrive in well-drained soil and need regular watering, especially during dry spells. Prune them in late winter to promote healthy growth and remove dead or diseased wood. Fertilize annually with a balanced fertilizer to encourage robust fruit production.

Plant Reproduction

Elderberry bush spreads via root suckers and bird-dispersed seeds.

How to Grow and Care for Fruit Trees and Berry Plants

Fruit trees and berry plants bring beauty, fragrance, and delicious harvests to your garden while supporting pollinators and wildlife. To grow them successfully, choose varieties suited to your USDA zone and plant them in full sun—at least 6–8 hours daily—for the best fruit production. Both fruit trees (like apple, peach, and pear) and berry plants (like blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry) thrive in well-draining, compost-enriched soil.

Plant in early spring or fall, spacing according to the plant’s mature size to ensure proper airflow and sunlight. Water deeply after planting and keep the soil evenly moist during the first growing season. Mulch around the base to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate temperature, but keep it a few inches away from the trunk or stems.

Prune annually to encourage healthy branching and better yields. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced or fruit-specific blend. With regular care, fruit trees and berry plants reward you with beautiful blooms and sweet, homegrown harvests for years to come.

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