Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Sambucus nigra (Common elder)
1 hour care
per year
per year
8m
Max height
Max height
4m
Max spread
Max spread
10-20 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Sambucus nigra
Other names
Common elder, European elderberry, Pipe tree, Black elderberry, Bur tree, Elderberry, European elder, Boor tree, Bore tree, Bour tree, Arn tree, Black elder, Boon tree
Genus
Sambucus Sambucus
Species
S. nigra - S. nigra is a large deciduous bush or small tree forming green leaflets and umbels of white flat-topped flowers in summer followed by black fruit in autumn.
Sambucus nigra is: Deciduous
Fragrance
Flowers are scented.
Habit
Bushy
Toxicity
Any part of the plant may cause discomfort if ingested. However, the berries may be consumed if cooked.
Flower
White in Summer
Foliage
Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Yellow in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Black-fly , Glasshouse red spider mite Black-fly , Glasshouse red spider mite
Verticillium wilt Verticillium wilt
General care
Propagation methods
Hardwood cuttings, Softwood cuttings
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Sambucus nigra (Common elder) will reach a height of 8m and a spread of 4m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Coastal, Hedging/Screens, Wildlife, Woodland
Cultivation
Will tolerate most soils and aspects; ideally, grow in a moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Will tolerate hard pruning to keep size in check.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Sambucus nigra
Other names
Common elder, European elderberry, Pipe tree, Black elderberry, Bur tree, Elderberry, European elder, Boor tree, Bore tree, Bour tree, Arn tree, Black elder, Boon tree
Genus
Sambucus Sambucus
Species
S. nigra - S. nigra is a large deciduous bush or small tree forming green leaflets and umbels of white flat-topped flowers in summer followed by black fruit in autumn.
Foliage
Deciduous
Fragrance
Flowers are scented.
Habit
Bushy
Toxicity
Any part of the plant may cause discomfort if ingested. However, the berries may be consumed if cooked.
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
White in Summer
Foliage
Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Yellow in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Black-fly , Glasshouse red spider mite
Specific diseases
General care
Propagation methods
Hardwood cuttings, Softwood cuttings
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Sambucus nigra (Common elder) will reach a height of 8m and a spread of 4m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Coastal, Hedging/Screens, Wildlife, Woodland
Cultivation
Will tolerate most soils and aspects; ideally, grow in a moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Will tolerate hard pruning to keep size in check.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
COMPANION PLANTS
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
Designed by brothers Hugh and Howard Miller, the Alder Hey Urban Foraging Station is a woven landscape; it is about weaving together the young and old, green and urban, play and learning and Alder… read more
By acclaimed garden designer Joe Francis. The inspiration for the garden came from Joe’s personal experience of depression and suicidal thoughts. Joe has teamed up with Maytree, a National… read more
Tom Dixon and IKEA are curious to see how we can make a positive impact on what we put on our plates, and hence our planet by exploring urban growing. Through our garden, we will use democratic… read more
By West London based garden designer Jonathan Snow. This year, Jonathan and Trailfinders want to transport visitors several thousand miles west around the globe, to the temperate rainforests of South… read more
Esteemed garden designer, Helen Elks-Smith, is creating a Show Garden on Main Avenue for the first time for Warner’s Distillery. read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
Sambucus nigra
There are 28 active discussions about Sambucus nigra (Common elder)
View all discussions