How to Grow Elderberry
Elderberry At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Berry
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -34°C
Plant Family
Adoxaceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
In late winter or early spring, before the buds open, cut pencil-thick pieces of last year's stems about 20 to 25 cm long, each with at least 2 pairs of buds. Push them into moist soil with the top pair of buds just above the ground, and keep them watered. Most grow roots within a few weeks and become new shrubs: plant them 1.8 m apart. Soft green shoot tips taken in summer also root well in a pot of damp potting mix.
Elderberry is a big, fast native shrub that roots so easily from cuttings that one plant can become a whole hedge. Plant two different varieties for heavier crops, and expect berries about 2 years after planting.
When To Start
Elderberry needs warmth. Wait until your last frost has passed and the soil has warmed before sowing.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant Elderberry?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Elderberry Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Elderberry Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Plant elderberry, two varieties for bigger crops
3 weeks before your last frost
Prune elderberry: cut out stems 3 years old or older
45 days before your last frost· every year
Look for ripe elderberries, and always cook them
120 days after your last frost· every year
Water your new elderberry plants well while they settle in. Deep and slow is best.
About 1 days after you plant it
How are your elderberry cuttings doing? Keep the soil moist while they grow roots.
About 30 days after you plant it
Your elderberry is getting established. Water deeply during dry spells this first year.
About 90 days after you plant it
The Journey Ahead
Elderberry's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 1
Prepare Your Space
180 cm
Plant Spacing
240 cm
Row Spacing
Vertical Growing
No.
Succession Planting
No.
Good Companions
Bad Companions
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Grow elderberry in full sun for the most berries, though it handles part shade.
- 2It loves moist soil rich in compost, so mix compost in at planting and spread more each spring.
- 3Water deeply every week in dry weather, since its roots are shallow and it is thirsty.
- 4Each late winter, cut out stems that are 3 years old or older, along with dead or weak ones, to keep young, fruitful wood coming.
- 5Birds love the berries, so cover the shrub with a net as they ripen if you want your share.
- 6The leaves, stems, roots and raw berries are toxic to people and pets, so eat only the cooked ripe berries and the flowers.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
300 cm
Mature Height
250 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
Harvest Window
21 days
When to Pick
Cut whole berry clusters once all berries are deep purple-black; always cook them
How to Harvest
- 1Pick when every berry in a cluster is deep purple-black and slightly soft, usually in late summer.
- 2Cut the whole cluster off with scissors and pull the berries off the tiny stems with a fork.
- 3Remove all green berries and bits of stem, since only ripe, cooked berries are safe to eat.
- 4Always cook the berries before eating them, in jam, syrup or pie, because raw berries cause stomach upset.
- 5The cream-coloured flower clusters can be picked in early summer for cordial or fritters, but every cluster you pick is one less bunch of berries.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
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