CorseMachin | Elderberry Plant Companions - Tips On Planting With Elderberries

Just planting ornamental varieties as a border for the perennial flower garden can be very attractive. If you plant varieties with black foliage, choose flowering plants with bright blossoms as elderberry companion plants. Phlox and bee balm work well when you are planting with elderberries in this way.

How far apart should elderberry be?
Does elderberry grow in the shade?
Do elderberry flowers turn into berries?
How long does it take for elderberry plants to produce?
Where should I plant my elderberry?
Do you need 2 elderberry bushes to get fruit?
What can I plant next to Elderberry?
Is there a difference between black elderberry and elderberry?
What grows well in shady areas?
Can you eat raw elderberries?
Can elderberries kill you?
Is Elderberry poisonous to dogs?

How far apart should elderberry be?

Space the plants approximately 5 feet apart in rows approximately 16 feet apart, and only a couple inches deep due to their shallow roots. These guys love to cross-pollinate, too, so don't be afraid to plant a cultivar with it, usually around 60 feet apart.

Does elderberry grow in the shade?

Elderberries are tolerant of partial shade and damp soil, although they prefer full sun and a well-drained, loamy location. Before the summer berries form, large, flat clusters of sweetly scented white flowers appear in spring.

Do elderberry flowers turn into berries?

The flowers of the elderberry tree should be harvested once the entire cluster has opened. Simply snip off the entire cluster of blooms. The berries will be ready to harvest when they are a rich, dark purple/black. They should also be slightly soft.

How long does it take for elderberry plants to produce?

Growth Rate. American elderberries have a moderate growth rate, growing 6 to 12 feet tall within three years of planting. These plants spread through suckers to become a dense hedge. They typically begin producing fruit within two to three years of planting, as well.

Where should I plant my elderberry?

Planting Tips

Pick a location with full sun.
Incorporate manure or compost before planting.
Plant elderberries 6-8 feet apart in rows 10 feet apart.
Plant 2 inches deeper than grown in the nursery.
Water the plant thoroughly.
No fertilizers should be applied in the first year.

Do you need 2 elderberry bushes to get fruit?

If you want to grow elderberries for their fruits, plant at least two different varieties that are known to bear safe, edible berries. Keep the plants no more than 60 feet apart. Berries may take two to three years to appear.

What can I plant next to Elderberry?

Is there a difference between black elderberry and elderberry?

Elderberry refers to several different varieties of the Sambucus tree, which is a flowering plant belonging to the Adoxaceae family. The most common type is Sambucus nigra, also known as the European elderberry or black elder.

What grows well in shady areas?

For damp shade, you can plant:

Astilbe (False Goat's Beard)
Astrantia major (Hattie's Pincushion)
Carex flagellifera (Sedge)
Geranium sylvaticum (Wood Cranesbill)
Hosta (Plantain Lily)
Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Aureum' (Golden Privet), which can handle even deep shade.
Primula (Primrose)
Pulmonaria (Lungwort)

Can you eat raw elderberries?

Cooked ripe elderberries are perfectly edible. Unripe elderberries are poisonous. Raw berries can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, among other symptoms, so be sure to cook them before eating. Cooking the berries also improves their flavor.

Can elderberries kill you?

Elderberries (a.k.a. Sambucus) are a common folk remedy — but beware. According to the CDC, the fresh leaves, flowers, bark, young buds, and particularly the roots contain a bitter alkaloid and glucoside that can produce hydrocyanic acid — which leads to cyanide poisoning.

Is Elderberry poisonous to dogs?

Pet Toxicity

Unripe elderberries contain a toxic alkaloid, as well as cyanogenic glycosides. The plant is listed on the Deerfield Veterinary Clinic and the Pet Education websites as being toxic to dogs. Plant poisoning in pets can cause a range of symptoms, from vomiting, nausea and diarrhea to organ failure or death.