Elderberry
Elderberry is a fruit in the Adoxaceae family. It grows best in full sun to part shade with medium to high moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 3-9.
Varieties
1 · sorted by days to maturity▸Elderberry
PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Berry shrub (cuttings) (not currently in seed catalog). Use: Cooked berries for syrup, wine, jam; flowers for cordial. Note: Plant two cultivars for best fruit set. Raw berries, leaves, stems and roots are toxic - berries MUST be cooked.
American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is a fast-growing native shrub grown from cuttings or suckers. Cross-pollination improves yield. Raw plant parts contain cyanogenic compounds, so berries must be cooked. Hardy zones 3-9.
Growing notes: Botanical name: Sambucus canadensis|Hardiness zones: 3-9|Propagation: cuttings/suckers|Sun needs: Full sun to part shade|Water needs: Medium to high|Mature height: 6-12 feet
Plan your elderberry planting
Add elderberry to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.
Start your free plan →At a glance
Storing & preserving
Refrigerate ripe fruit; ripen firm fruit at room temperature.
- Freeze: Freezes well raw; spread on a tray first so pieces stay loose.
- Preserve: Make jam or water-bath can high-acid fruit.
- Dry: Dehydrate or air-dry, then store airtight away from light.
General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting
No curated care & troubleshooting advice for elderberry yet. Our extension-sourced library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.