Planting elderberry: when & how?

What is the best time to plant elderberry? What do you have to bear in mind when growing elderflower in pots? Find everything you need to know about planting elderberry trees here.

Elder (Sambucus) is a robust and undemanding shrub that you can plant in pots and in the garden. But is elderberry a shrub or a tree? In nature, elderberries usually grow as a shrub with dense branching close to the ground.

However, you can easily prune young elderberry plants into a single-trunked and crowned tree. When fashioned into a tree, elderberry takes up less space, which is ideal for pots and small gardens, and is in fact how farmers cultivate elders in commercial orchards.

Here, we consider how to plant elderberries and where they thrive. Read our article devoted to elder to find out more about planting, caring for and propagating elderberry plants, as well as about the different elderberry species and varieties.

When to plant elderberry

It is best to plant your elder bush or elder tree in autumn (September/October) or at the beginning of spring (March/April). At these times, the plant will grow and develop best.

Tip: Before you plant your elderberry, be sure to remove its branches. This will prevent the plant from losing too much water through its leaves.

Best place to plant elderberry

Elderberry plants are very undemanding. They feel at home in sunny and partially shaded locations and thrive in almost any soil. However, elder does grow best in well-draining, moist and slightly chalky soil with a high humus content.

Planting an elderberry tree in the garden

To plant your elderberry, dig a hole in your garden that is about twice the size of your plant’s root ball. Loosen the soil in the hole, and enrich it with compost, horn shavings, bone meal or some other fertiliser. Our Plantura All Purpose Plant Food is a great choice, because it provides elderberry with essential nutrients for healthy growth.

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Place your root ball in the hole, fill it with soil and press down. After you have planted the elderberry, water it well. If you want to plant several elderberry bushes at the same time, for example, to create an elderberry hedge, keep 1.5 to 2 metres between each plant.

Growing elderberry in pots

To grow elderflowers in pots, use smaller varieties, such as the yellow-leaved ′Golden Tower′, a black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) that reaches 1.5 to 2.5 metres tall. Or, form your elder into a single-trunked tree, which will work well on a patio or balcony. Peat-free potting soil, such as our Plantura Organic All Purpose Compost, supports elder trees very well.

With the right care and suitable pruning, elder plants grow more beautiful each year. They bear creamy white elderflowers in June and juicy elderberries from September, making them a valuable food source for insects and birds alike.

Want to learn more about harvesting and using elderflowers and elderberries? Discover helpful tips and ideas in our article on picking elderflowers and elderberries.