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Sambucus nigra (any variety) (Elder (any variety))
1 hour care
per year
per year
6m
Max height
Max height
6m
Max spread
Max spread
10-20 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Sambucus nigra (any variety)
Other names
Elder (any variety), Black elder (any variety), Elderberry (any variety), Boor tree (any variety), Bore tree (any variety), Pipe tree (any variety), Elderflower bush (any variety)
Genus
Sambucus Sambucus
Variety or Cultivar
S. nigra (any variety) _ If you don't know the variety name of your Sambucus nigra (Elder), you can add this plant to your lists to get care advice.
Sambucus nigra (any variety) are upright, arching, or columnar, bushy, deciduous shrubs or small trees with pinnate leaves divided into three to seven, ovate to elliptic, toothed, green, variegated, or yellow-green leaflets and flattened panicles of tiny, aromatic, white flowers in summer followed by spherical, glossy, black fruit.
Sambucus nigra (any variety) is: Deciduous
Fragrance
Flowers are scented.
Habit
Arching, Broadly columnar, Bushy, Upright
Toxicity
Any part of the plant may cause discomfort if ingested. However, the berries may be consumed when cooked.
Flower
White in Summer
Foliage
Yellow-green, Variegated, Green in Spring; Green, Yellow-green, Variegated in Summer; Yellow-green, Variegated, Green 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
Pruning
Pruning group 1. Tolerates hard pruning to control size.
Propagation methods
Hardwood cuttings, Softwood cuttings
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Where to grow
Sambucus nigra (any variety) (Elder (any variety)) will reach a height of 6m and a spread of 6m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Coastal, Hedging/Screens, Wildlife, Woodland
Cultivation
Grow in humus-rich, moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions including extremely chalky sites.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but 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
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Sambucus nigra (any variety)
Other names
Elder (any variety), Black elder (any variety), Elderberry (any variety), Boor tree (any variety), Bore tree (any variety), Pipe tree (any variety), Elderflower bush (any variety)
Genus
Sambucus Sambucus
Variety or Cultivar
S. nigra (any variety) _ If you don't know the variety name of your Sambucus nigra (Elder), you can add this plant to your lists to get care advice.
Sambucus nigra (any variety) are upright, arching, or columnar, bushy, deciduous shrubs or small trees with pinnate leaves divided into three to seven, ovate to elliptic, toothed, green, variegated, or yellow-green leaflets and flattened panicles of tiny, aromatic, white flowers in summer followed by spherical, glossy, black fruit.
Native to
Garden origin
Foliage
Deciduous
Fragrance
Flowers are scented.
Habit
Arching, Broadly columnar, Bushy, Upright
Toxicity
Any part of the plant may cause discomfort if ingested. However, the berries may be consumed when cooked.
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Colour
Flower
White in Summer
Foliage
Yellow-green, Variegated, Green in Spring; Green, Yellow-green, Variegated in Summer; Yellow-green, Variegated, Green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Black-fly , Glasshouse red spider mite
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 1. Tolerates hard pruning to control size.
Propagation methods
Hardwood cuttings, Softwood cuttings
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Sambucus nigra (any variety) (Elder (any variety)) will reach a height of 6m and a spread of 6m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Coastal, Hedging/Screens, Wildlife, Woodland
Cultivation
Grow in humus-rich, moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions including extremely chalky sites.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but 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, Zone 5, Zone 4
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 | 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... |
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