Elderberry SEEDS

American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

Elderberry is a super cool shrub. It is a super fast growing plant. Seriously they grow so fast when they're happy. Elderberry typically maxes out at 20 feet tall. It is commonly trimmed to remain shorter. This makes flower and berry harvesting easier. If cut back to ground level elderberry will send up new shoots. These plants grow very well from cuttings. We have seen elderberry cuttings taken in fall reach 6 feet high by the following fall. I am certain that this is no limit and that under better conditions they could grow more in one year.

When grown from cuttings the resulting plant is genetically identical to the parent plant. Most elderberry plants sold are grown as cuttings and therefore the genetic diversity available is low. In the wild elderberry are rather abundant and the genetic pool in the wild populations is very diverse. 

Elderberry is an important wildlife plant. The flowers attract many pollinators and the berries are loved by birds. The seed, leaves, bark, and raw berries are toxic to humans however the flowers and cooked berries have many known medical uses. In various folk traditions elderberry concoctions are used to promote healing from a range of illness and infections. From a lenses of modern science we also know that elderberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins which help to boost the immune system and balance inflammation. 

2026 selection

Our seed this year comes from a mix of several wild plantings foraged in PA by our friend Mark. Seed comes in packs of 50. For best germination results cold stratify for ~60 days or fall sow.