How to Successfully Transplant American Elderberry Shrubs

The American black elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is native throughout much of North America. It is a member of the Adoxaceae family and is closely related to several other elderberry species with ranges that include North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. In the wild, elderberry prefers a sunny location with rich, moist soil. It will spread rapidly in ideal conditions, forming dense thickets along streamsides, wetland borders, and moist valleys.

In the home landscape, elderberry plants are best used as hedges, in naturalized areas, and for erosion control along wetland edges. Due to their vigorous growth and ability to develop numerous root suckers each year, these plants should be grown in a spacious naturalized area where they won’t interfere with any less aggressive garden plants in a more formal garden setting. Elderberry makes an excellent addition to a native plant garden, wildlife garden, or rain garden.

If you are ready to learn more about these fascinating plants, keep reading for more details on growing an elderberry shrub!

American elderberry is a widespread plant across North America, from Canada throughout the United States, and continuing into South America. In its natural habitat, it typically inhabits wetlands, wetland edges, moist forest edges, and moist meadows. While it may prefer moist soil conditions, it is adaptable and not limited to wet areas. It can also grow well in average soils with regular moisture and adequate sunlight.

Elderberry is a medium-sized deciduous shrub. It has large, pinnately compound leaves that are glossy and finely serrated around the edges. Large umbels of tiny white flowers bloom in spring and summer. The flowers are showy and fragrant and attract pollinators. Following the flowers, loose clusters of showy, dark, purplish-black berries ripen in late summer into fall, attracting many species of hungry wildlife.

There are a couple of cultivars and similar species, including the very similar-looking black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) native to Europe. Sambucus plants all look somewhat similar but have different places of origin, differences in size, and slightly varying flower and fruit coloration.

Humans have long used elderberry for a variety of purposes. Elderberry is sometimes used for culinary andmedicinal purposes. The berries are poisonous when raw but can be consumed after cooking and are often used in pies, jams, jellies, and preserves. Elderberry has been used to make wine, tea, and mulled drinks. Elderberry fruits can also be used to make dye for fabrics.

Elderberry plants can be propagated via seed, cuttings, and division. The easiest method is by division of suckers because these plants spread rapidly and create many opportunities for the division of suckers. However, cuttings from dormant hardwood or young new wood are often viable. Starting plants from seed is generally the least successful and most time-consuming method.

For a plant that produces abundant fruits and thus abundant seeds, one would think that elderberry should be easy to start from seed. However, encouraging elderberry seeds to germinate can be very difficult unless you provide ideal growing conditions.

Seeds will need to be properly stratified. You must cold-stratify your seeds by placing them in a damp growing medium in the refrigerator for at least 60-90 days. Do not place them in the freezer.

Alternatively, winter sowing techniques can provide the natural cold stratification they would receive in the wild. You may still experience very low germination rates even after proper stratification procedures.

Elderberry plants spread rapidly. Each root sucker is an opportunity for you to divide your plant, but you will have to separate the root sprout from the parent plant successfully.

Be prepared for some digging. Loosen the soil in a wide enough area to isolate, loosen, and remove a healthy-looking root sucker. You will need to cut the stem between the sucker and the parent plant. Be sure to leave the roots of your targeted sucker as intact as you can.

Then, immediately transplant the separated sucker into a new location or a fresh large pot of soil and water it well. These offshoots should produce additional root tissue and start growing faster than a cutting would.

Elderberry can be propagated from dormant hardwood cuttings from the prior year’s growth. Take cuttings before the early spring growth, ensuring you have 2-4 growth nodes along the stem’s length. These should be healthy cuttings, free from any damage. These cuttings can be rooted immediately but, if desired, can be stored under refrigeration for 4-6 weeks and will still take root. A rooting hormone can spur root development. Cuttings should be placed in sterile, premoistened soil, with the lowest growth node under the soil’s surface.

From softwood cuttings or hardwood cuttings that have produced new growth, you can still propagate new elderberry plants. However, for these younger or newly-sprouted stems, you’ll need to provide constant humidity around the younger tissue to ensure they stay alive to take root. Intermittent misting is recommended for these younger cuttings; otherwise, most methods remain the same as hardwood cuttings. Before planting, remove most of the leaves so the plants aren’t trying to sustain them, leaving only the two lowest leaves on each stem.

It will take several weeks before your plants start to develop new roots, and you will find that not every cutting you take will root successfully. Those that take root and start growing can be kept in pots until you can transplant them outside.

When you have an elderberry plant ready to transplant, the process is relatively easy. First, make sure you are transplanting your plant into a suitable site with ample space, bright sunlight, and moist soil.

The ideal time of year for transplanting elderberry is in the spring after the final risk of frost has subsided. This allows the plant’s roots to become established before hot weather. In warmer climates with little to no frost during the winter months, it’s also possible to transplant these in the fall.

Prepare a hole a bit larger than the root ball of the plant you have to transplant. Carefully transfer your plant out of its pot and into the hole. Then, refill the gaps around the plant with fresh soil and water it well. Keep your new plant well-watered for the first week or two to help it settle into its new home.

‘Black Lace’ Elderberry, Sambucus nigra

This S. nigra variety stands out with pink blooms and dark red leaves.

The ‘Black Lace’ elderberry is a cultivar that looks a bit different. It has showy pink flowers that bloom in the spring and shiny dark purple berries that ripen in the late summer or fall. This cultivar also has beautiful foliage in striking, dark, purplish-red, greatly contrasting with any neighboring plants.

Black Elderberry, Sambucus nigra

Birds and pollinators are attracted to the fruit and bright red stems of black elderberry.

Black elderberry is native to Europe. It can grow up to 20 feet tall and spreads rapidly by root suckering. This plant produces masses of small black fruits on bright red stems and is great for attracting birds and pollinators.

Growing American Elderberries

FAQ

Do elderberry bushes have deep roots?

Do elderberry bushes spread?

When can I move a sambucus?