adams_elderberry

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Moonshine Designs Nursery

Located in Milan, Illinois 309-756-1967 Fax: 309-756-1058

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Adams Elderberry (for fruit, winemaking, etc)

(AMERICAN ELDERBERRY. NATIVE)

Sambucus canadensis 'Adams'

American elderberry is a thicket-forming shrub with large flat-topped clusters of small, fragrant white flowers in spring. The flowers are a good source of nectar for small insects. Big clusters of dark purple to black, berry-like fruits follow in late summer to fall. The fruit is an outstanding source of food for birds and other wildlife. The old stems provide over-wintering sites for insects. Birds such as woodpeckers then forage in the clumps for the insects.

Flowers provide nectar for pollinators

The fruit is USED FOR WINE AND JELLY MAKING. Also favored by birds and other wildlife. Elderberry fruit makes incredible juice and jellies that have wonderful flavor and are very high in Vitamin C.

Old stems provide habitat for over-wintering beneficial insects

Excellent for naturalizing in moist soil

Height and width: 8-10 feet. May be pruned to a shorter size.

Hardy zones 3-9.

How to grow:

Plant in full sun to part shade.

Elderberries grow best in moist, fertile, well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5, but will tolerate a wide range of soil texture, fertility, and acidity. It’s a myth that they prefer swampy areas. In fact, they do not tolerate poor drainage. Plant elderberries in spring, as soon as possible after they arrive from the nursery to prevent plants from drying out. Space plants 6 to 10 feet apart. Elderberries are shallow rooted, so keep them well-watered during the first season.

Elderberries respond well to fertilization. In addition to incorporating manure or compost before planting, apply additional fertilizer annually in early spring. Apply 1/8 pound of ammonium nitrate (or .5 lbs. 10-10-10) for each year of the plant’s age, up to one pound per plant (or up to 4 lbs. 10-10-10).

Harvest
Harvest elderberry fruit in late August through early September, depending on the cultivar. When ripe, the entire cluster should be -removed and the berries stripped from the cluster for use. Uncooked berries have a dark purple juice and are astringent and inedible. Use the fruit as soon as possible or keep it at a cool temperature for later use. It is difficult to transport elderberries because the fruits fall off the cluster during transit.

Plants are 12-18" when shipped

Item Name: Adams Elderberry GAL SBR Item Number: 13359