The American elderberry shrub (Sambucus canadensis) is a fast-growing deciduous shrub native to North America. If you’re considering adding this attractive wildlife-friendly plant to your landscape, you’re probably wondering – how quickly does elderberry grow?
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the growth rate and speed of American elderberry plants. We’ll look at:
- Typical growth rate per year
- Factors that affect growth
- Growth rate in ideal conditions
- Timeline from planting to maturity
Typical Growth Rate Per Year
American elderberry is well known for its rapid, vigorous growth habit. It has a moderate to fast growth rate, capable of putting on substantial new growth each year with proper care.
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In a typical garden setting expect growth of 1 – 2 feet per year on average.
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Young plants may have a growth spurt of 2 – 4 feet in the first couple years Growth tends to slow slightly as plants reach maturity,
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With adequate moisture and care, growth of up to 3 feet per year is possible.
Factors That Affect Growth Rate
Several key factors play a role in determining how quickly your elderberry will grow:
Sunlight
Elderberry does best in full sun. At least 6 hours of direct sun per day will result in the fastest growth rate. Partial shade is tolerated, but plants may grow slower.
Soil & Water
Moist, fertile soil and adequate water are essential for fast growth. Elderberry thrives in constantly moist soils. Insufficient water will limit its growth rate.
Age of Plant
Younger plants grow faster, often 2+ feet per year when juvenile. Growth rate slows as plants mature. Pruning and care can help maintain rapid growth in mature shrubs.
Pruning
Regular pruning removes old wood and stimulates new growth. Prune in late winter to maximize growth each season.
Plant Health
A healthy plant with proper care and ideal conditions will achieve faster growth than one stressed by pests, disease, or suboptimal care.
Growth Rate in Ideal Conditions
If provided with its preferred growing conditions, the American elderberry can be an incredibly vigorous grower. Here’s what you can expect in ideal conditions:
- Year 1 – Planting to 2 feet
- Year 2 – 2 to 4 feet
- Year 3 – 2 to 3 feet
- Year 4+ – 1 to 2 feet per year
With rich soil, ample moisture, full sun, and proper care, growth of 2 – 3 feet per year is common even once plants mature. Providing supplemental fertilizer can boost growth rate as well.
Timeline from Planting to Maturity
From planting to maturity, here is a general timeline of what to expect:
- Year 1 – Fast juvenile growth to 2 – 4 feet
- Year 2 – Continued quick growth, 4 – 6 feet tall
- Year 3 – Slowing growth rate, 5 – 8 feet tall
- Year 4 – Reaching maturity around 6 – 10 feet tall
- Year 5+ – Growth slows to 1 – 2 feet per year once mature
Of course, exact growth timeline varies based on your specific growing conditions. But in general, expect plants to reach maturity in 3-5 years, ultimately growing 6-12 feet tall at maturity.
Tips for Fast, Healthy Growth
If you want your elderberry shrub to grow as quickly as possible, here are a few useful tips:
- Select a planting spot with full sun and amend soil with compost
- Water 1-2 inches per week, avoid drought stress
- Fertilize each spring with a balanced organic fertilizer
- Mulch to retain soil moisture and nutrition
- Prune annually to stimulate new growth
- Control weeds, pests, and diseases promptly
- Allow plenty of room to grow, don’t crowd plants
Mature Plant Size
Once your elderberry plant reaches maturity after approximately 4-5 years, it will likely measure:
- 6-12 feet tall
- 4-8 feet wide
- With multiple spreading stems
Pruning and care impact size, but this gives a rough estimate of its ultimate dimensions at maturity in the landscape. Give it plenty of room to grow!
To summarize, the American elderberry is a moderate to fast growing deciduous shrub. Expect new growth of 1-3 feet per year on average, depending on your growing conditions. These hardy, carefree plants will quickly fill out their space in the garden, providing year-round interest with their flowers, fruit, and foliage!
With its vigorous growth habit, elderberry can become a focal point in your landscape within just a few short years. Just be sure to allow enough room for this fast-growing shrub to reach its full size and shape at maturity.
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Why American Black Elderberry?
Famous in Europe and North Africa for a long time, black elderberries were once thought to ward off evil spirits and cure diseases. We don’t know about evil spirits, but in the U.S., black elderberries are recognized as a ‘superfruit” because of their multiple health benefits.
All parts of the elderberry are considered valuable healing plants in folk medicines. They help fight colds and flu, lower cholesterol, and reduce cancer risk.
Because of its multiple benefits, American Black Elderberry is sold in the form of powder, pill, juice, syrup, gummy, etc. The flowers are the mildest part of the plant and are prepared as tea to break dry fevers and stimulate perspiration.
Aside from medicine, Sambucus canadensis are used to make arrow shafts, combs, flute, dyes for basketry, and much more. Despite its many advantages, the plant is not palatable during all seasons and receives limited browsing in the spring as compared to late summer and fall.
Pollination: Self fruiting, however, larger yields can be expected with cross pollination of multiple varieties.
It is generally recommended to wait to fertilize a bare root plant until it has been established in the ground and is actively growing. This can vary depending on the type of plant and the growing conditions, but it is generally best to wait at least a few weeks to a few months after planting.
During the first year, you should focus on providing the plant with the right amount of water, sunlight and soil to help it become established. Once the plant has become established and is actively growing, you can begin to fertilize it.
You can use a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer or one that is specifically formulated for the type of plant you have. Be sure to follow the instructions on the fertilizer package and apply it at the recommended rate.
It is also important to note that over-fertilizing can be harmful to plants, so its always best to error on the side of caution and start with a lower amount of fertilizer and increase as needed.
The following are some of the key specifications of Sambucus canadensis, also known as American elderberry:
- Size: Sambucus canadensis, also known as American elderberry, typically grows to be 6-12 feet tall and 6-12 feet wide.
- Foliage: The leaves are opposite, pinnate, and have 5-9 leaflets. They are dark green and slightly toothed.
- Flowers and fruit: The plant produces clusters of small white or pinkish flowers in the spring, which are followed by clusters of small black berries in the summer.
- Growth habit: American elderberry is a deciduous shrub that has a spreading habit.
- Sunlight: It prefers full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: The plant can tolerate a wide range of soil types, but prefers moist, well-draining soil.
- Hardiness: It is hardy in USDA zones 3-9.
- pH level: It is adaptable to a range of pH levels.
- Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring to remove any dead or damaged wood and to control the size of the shrub.
- Pest and diseases: American elderberry is relatively disease and pest resistant, but can be susceptible to powdery mildew and insect pests such as aphids and spider mites.
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American Elderberry Bush
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American Elderberry Bush (17 reviews) Write a Review $14.95 SKU: DG5531-BE Scientific Name: Sambucus canadensis Hardiness/Growing Zone: 3-9 Sun Exposure: Full to Partial Sun Growth Rate Per Year: 24 – 36 inches Average Mature He
Posted by C Roque on 04/26/21 Very Nice and already growing.
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Growing Elderberry! What you need to know!
FAQ
How fast do elderberry shrubs grow?
How big do American elderberry bushes get?
What is the difference between elderberry and American elderberry?
Do you need two elderberry bushes?
How big does an elderberry bush grow?
In general, American elder spreads out about the same distance as it grows upwards – typically, 5 to 12 feet for a full-grown shrub. This makes it roughly dome-shaped and approximately as wide as a driveway, on average. The lowest branches are usually quite close to the ground, making it difficult to mow around. Elderberry bush not growing?
How do you plant American elderberry?
When planting your American elderberry, choose a spot that isn’t prone to standing water (the plants have shallow roots and can rot easily) and plant each shrub at least a few feet apart from one another to allow them to grow freely. When it comes to the American elderberry, drought is pretty much the one thing it cannot tolerate.
When does American elderberry Bloom?
Clear the soil frequently of any weeds you notice encroaching on your elderberry shrubs. In healthy conditions, American elderberry should bloom readily. American elderberry tends to bloom in late spring and early summer, usually in June and July, depending on where you are located.
How fast do American elder bushes grow?
As a general rule, American elder bushes gain more than 2 feet in height each year when they have access to adequate sunlight and water. How fast does American elder grow? American elder is a fast-growing shrub, typically gaining at least 2 feet of height per year in ideal conditions, especially in its first couple of years.