Elderberries are a native shrub found growing across North America and Europe. They reach 6′ to 10′ in height, and produce large, flat clusters of purple-black berries. The fruit is quite astringent if eaten fresh from the bush, but makes excellent wine, juice, syrup, and the most delicious jelly you’ve ever tasted.  The berries are reported to be very high in nutrients and antioxidants.  Elderberry syrup is the current cure for all that ails you !!!

The very rapid growing plants will thrive in any type of soil that is moisture retentive, but they do not have much drought tolerance. if you want to grow them on a dry site, mulch heavily and keep well watered.

The bushes have great ornamental value with large clusters of small white blooms in early summer, large berry clusters in late summer, and attractive yellow, orange, and red foliage in fall. They are excellent for habitat improvement for bees, humming and song birds and other animals.

Two different varieties should be planted near each other for proper pollination and one bush can produce up to 20 pounds of fruit. The varieties we offer are cold hardy anywhere in the lower peninsula.

 

  Well rooted plants in 3.5″ pots are priced at $8.50 each.

Adams – is a highly productive variety with very large berries that ripen over a month period.

Bob Gordon – berries are larger than other elderberries. This variety can be cut back to the ground in winter, and will fruit on current seasons growth in late summer.

Johns – has very large berry clusters that ripen earlier than the other varieties. Bush grows a bit taller than other varieties, up to 10′.    SOLD OUT

Ranch – is a popular variety that only grows to 5′- 6′ tall. It is very cold hardy and tolerant of adverse sites and conditions. Berry size is average and production is very good. SOLD OUT

 

NATIVE BLACK ELDERBERRY

Black Elderberry – these are seed grown native elderberry plants. Because they are not clones like the named varieties listed above, there will be variability in fruit size and ripening season, but fruit production will equal that of wild elderberries.  Bushes will grow from 6′-12′ tall, and are great pollinators for any of the cloned varieties listed above. Also great for habitat improvement, as every bird in the neighborhood will be eating them.

18″ – 24″ tall bareroot plants are priced at $7.00 each