How to Grow and Care for Elder

Elder, also known as European elder, Black elder, Common elderberry, European elderberry, Danewort, Eldrum

Elder is a hardy perennial that generally requires minimal maintenance, making it easy to care for. It's vital to ensure elder is planted in well-draining soil and receives adequate sunlight, although it can tolerate partial shade. One special care point is that elder benefits from annual pruning to maintain its shape and promote healthy growth. Overwatering should be avoided to prevent root rot. The plant's resilience to pests and diseases further adds to its easy care.

Watering schedule: Every 1-2 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

Toxic to Humans

In This Article

Planting and Growing Elder

Toughness	High
Care Level	Low
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 1-2 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil pH	5.5-6.5
Planting Time	Spring, Fall
Hardiness Zones	5-10
Toxicity	Toxic to Humans

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Varieties of Elder

Elder 'Guincho Purple'

Elder 'Guincho Purple' is an elder with a difference, sporting deep-colored, purple-tinged leaves rather than the usual vibrant green. This plant is a cultivar of the European elder, also called Sambucus nigra. It features "Purple" in its name for obvious foliage-related reasons.

Elder 'Eiffel 1'

The elder 'Eiffel 1' stands out for its dark purple leaves and its tall, slender shape, reminiscent of the Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla 'Eiffel 1'. In contrast, most elders have green leaves and a rounded, bushy shape. Its fruit attracts butterflies and birds. It thrives in direct sun and this hybrid makes an excellent specimen shrub.

Elder 'Eva'

Elder 'Eva' is a most striking elderberry hybrid that features pink-white flowers and deep burgundy leaves. These adaptations make this a far more showy variety than its green-leaved parent. It can be grown as a specimen shrub or shaped into screens or hedging. Its deer resistance gives it added garden appeal.

Elder 'Aurea'

Elder 'Aurea' features vibrant golden-yellow leaves, offering a striking contrast in garden settings. This cultivar of elderberry typically grows as a robust, deciduous shrub, reaching heights that can anchor landscape designs. Flourishing in full sun to partial shade, elder 'Aurea' produces clusters of small, creamy-white flowers in spring, followed by dark berries, attractive to wildlife and beneficial for biodiversity.

Common Pests & Diseases

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The Toxicity of Elder

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More General Info About Elder

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Elder is characterized by its robust and expansive growth, reaching heights of 8 to 20 feet (2.4 to 6 meters) and similar widths. This deciduous specimen thrives with multiple stems that give it a bushy appearance. The leaves are arranged oppositely along the branches and are compound with several leaflets. In the right conditions, it will produce clusters of tiny, creamy-white flowers, which subsequently mature into dark, purplish-black berries.