American, Elderberry Seed
American Elderberry Seed
- Heavy clusters of dark purple berries for homemade syrups, jams, pies and wine
- Broad creamy white flower clusters draw bees, butterflies and beneficial insects
- Fast-growing native that thrives in moist soil and spreads into an attractive, dense thicket
- Grow a cold-hardy northern elderberry patch from seeds at home
Key Attributes
About American, Elderberry Seed
Homemade syrups, jams, pies and wines all start with the dark purple berries of this fast-growing native shrub. American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is crowned in early summer with broad, flat clusters of creamy white flowers, which are used for cordials and teas, before heavy clusters of berries follow. It thrives in moist soil, spreads into an attractive thicket, and is a magnet for pollinators and songbirds. This northern collection is especially cold hardy.
Growing details
Plant profile
Seed & variety
Before Planting
Planting
Watering
Fertilizer
Harvesting
Tips
Pests & Diseases
Powdery mildew, leaf spot and cankers may occur in humid weather. Remove damaged canes and keep good air flow.
Elder borers, aphids and Japanese beetles may appear. Spotted wing drosophila can affect fruit; harvest promptly. Birds compete eagerly for ripe berries.
Native States & Regions
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Native regions: Widespread Native
Its Role in the Native Ecosystem
American Elderberry's flat flower clusters feed bees, flies and other pollinators in early summer. Its berries are eaten by dozens of bird species, including catbirds, robins, bluebirds and grosbeaks. The leaves host several moth caterpillars, and dense thickets offer nesting cover.
American Elderberry Native Range Map
Native range describes natural occurrence, not the origin of this seed lot or every location where a plant can be grown.
Alaska and Hawaii are shown as insets. State-level range does not mean a plant occurs throughout every part of that state.
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