Elderberry | Cuttings | 4 | Organic
Regular price $44.00
SHIPPING IS INCLUDED IN PRICE
Cuttings are taken in winter and shipped January to April.
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This order is for 4 unrooted cuttings, not for rooted plants.
Varieties offered: Bob Gordon, Ranch and Wyldwood. Based on your shipping address we will select a mix best suited for your climate. If you have a specific request please leave at note when adding your items to checkout.
New to growing elderberry from cuttings? Read How to Grow & learn about Varieties.
British Columbia Certified Organic by NOOA 04-334
Elderberry Varieties
VARIETIES:
Sambucus canadensis (aka Sambucus nigra. ssp canadensis) -Native to Canada/US.
Bob Gordon is one of the best for flavour and high brix (sweetness). It ranked as the heaviest producer in trials at the university of Missouri. Identified and collected from the wild by Robert Gordon, Charlotte Cooper, and Andrew Thomas near Osceola, MO in 1999. Added bonus is the berry clusters hang decumbently which discourages birds from having an easy snack! Semi-determinate to determinate. Bob Gordon ripens a bit later than some of the other varieties and for this reason I do not recommend it for anyone any further north than where we live at 50.7 degrees latitude.
Ranch is very vigorous and heavy yielding, it does well in poor soils and is the quickest to root from cuttings. Stems are strong and upright. Bushes are quick to establish. An all around impressive variety! Strongly determinate. Ranch ripens slightly earlier than Bob Gordon, but nonetheless it is still one of the latest to ripen. For this reason I do not recommend it for anyone living any further north than where we live at 50.7 degrees latitude.
Wyldewood is a widely grown variety in the Midwest. Selected from the wild by Jack Millican near Eufaula, OK, in 1995. Excellent for harvest and processing with good flavour. Fruit set is reliable and prolific. This variety is completely indeterminate, and will continue to produce flowers until frost kills the plant – it is possible to still see fresh flowers in December! Wyldewood is the latest ripening of all our varieties and for this reason I do not recommend it for anyone growing even as far north as where we live at 50.7 degrees latitude. It would still be a great choice if you lived at a slightly lower lattitude, or just want to grow it for flower production.
Adams is an older variety originating in 1926 in New York, selected from the wild by William Adams. Tall variety which has small berries, but yields and large clusters. Ripens early but produces a lot of flowers as it is indeterminate. Adams performs quite well for us. Extremely vigorous.
York is a cross between Ezyoff and Adams 2 done in 1926. Plant large / productive; berry clusters heavy, berries are quite large and deeply red in colour. Early ripening for us, although other sources say it is a late ripener. Vigorous and bears well for many years.
Nova Seedling of Adams 2 released in 1960 from research station in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Large fruit, ripens early deep red juice. Sweeter than Kent and Victoria. Grown by commercial growers in Canada; Tolerates higher latitudes better than some varieties. The least vigorous of the Kentville varieties in our experience.
Scotia Seedling of Adams 2 released in 1960 from research station in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Large fruit, ripens early. Sweeter than Kent and Victoria. Grown by commercial growers in Canada; should tolerate higher latitudes better than some varieties.
Victoria Seedling of Adams 2 released in 1960 from research station in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Grown by commercial growers in Canada; tolerates higher latitudes better than some varieties. Victoria is the most vigorous and best producer of the Kentville 5. Nice clusters that ripen early and have excellent colour.
Kent Seedling of Adams 1 released in 1960 from research station in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Grown by commercial growers in Canada; tolerates higher latitudes better than some varieties. Kent is in the top two producers of the Kentville 5 in our experience. Deep red fruit.
Coomer Developed in Vermont by Lewis Hill. Very cold hardy, ripens early and uniformly. Beautiful clusters with large berries.
Berry Hill was developed in Vermont by Lewis Hill. Very cold hardy, ripens uniformly and early. Beatiful clusters with large berries.
Jumbo I only have one bush of Jumbo so far, But WOW I think it may be the one. It originates from Vermont and is very similar to Coomer and Berry Hill, but is noteably larger and more vigorous.
Johns Elderberry Is reported to be a vigorous and early producer, although not as early as Adams. Our understanding is that it is one of the largest bushes of the elderberry varieties, has large fruit clusters and is a good producer. We will soon find out.
Sambucus nigra - Native to Europe.
Marge is a seedling of Haschburg (S. nigra). Marge produces on second year wood. A very heavy producer of small decumbent cymes, and is resistant to eriophyid mite. For unknown reasons Marge adapts better to many north american climates than any other S. nigra variety. Commercial growers have great success with it in climates with both hot summers and cold winters. Some sources indicate that the source of it's unique characteristics is that It may be a hybrid with s. canadensis
Sampo is particularly suited to juice production. Extremely vigorous high producer with stiff and strong branches. A result of recent breeding efforts from the Research Center for Horticulture in Arslev, Denmark.
Samdal resulted from recent breeding efforts from the Research Center for Horticulture in Arslev, Denmark. Tends not to sucker. Excellent yield and highly vigorous. Pollinates Samyl.
Samyl is a result of recent breeding efforts from the Research Center for Horticulture in Arslev, Denmark. Particularly known for its flavourful flowers. As productive as Samdal. Both are required for pollination. Samyl is the the most vigorous variety on our farm.
Sambu A result of recent breeding efforts from the Research Center for Horticulture in Arslev, Denmark.
Haschburg originates from an Austrian breeding program in Klosterneuburg, Austria. It is often cited as the most widely grown elderberry varietal in Germany and Austria. Produces abundant clusters of large juicy and flavourful berries. We are told it has excellent flower flavour as well. We will find out soon!
Haidegg 17 is a particularly outstanding selection from Klosterneuburg, Austria. Cymes significantly larger than Haschburg and Sampo. Full yield reached in a short time. Up to 25t/ha.
Bradet This is one of a series of Elders bred for vitamin production and the food industry in Romania in the 1950s According to the Romanian book I have on elderberry production it is an excellent producer.
Allesso Selection from the wild, Denmark.
Korsor Selection from the wild, Denmark. Flowers are high in sugar content, used in Wines and Cordials.
How to Grow
Elderberry cuttings are only available during the winter dormant season till very early spring. If something is out of stock to get a reminder when they become available sign up here.
Elderberry is one of the easiest plants to start from cuttings out there.
So easy in fact that buying a rooted plant is hardly worth the hassle and higher cost. Cuttings want to live and will grow roots quickly!
Buy elderberry cuttings here.
HOW DO I STORE ELDERBERRY CUTTINGS?
Place cuttings in the fridge until planting time. Ensure bags remain sealed so that they do not dry out. Check periodically. There should be at least a little bit of condensation inside the bag. You may add a drop or two of water as needed.
HOW DO I START ELDERBERRY CUTTINGS?
1. Start them directly in the soil in their permanent location or start them early in pots in a greenhouse environment.
2. Place cutting "angled cut side" down with bottom (or middle node if there is one) buried 3 inches or more below the soil; top node must stick out above soil. Alternatively just stick the cutting 2/3's of the way into the soil.
3. If starting in pots use the best soil you can get. Promix sells a very good organic myco innoculated soil mix. Elderberries love myco (myco = mycohorrizal beneficial fungi).
4. Protip: You can also make a biochar slurry mixed with mycohorrizal innoculant powder to dip the base of cuttings if you are planting directly in permanent location.
5. Yes you can put them outside even in cold weather. Elderberry cuttings will not be damaged by freezing.
6. And no elderberry does not require any rooting hormone.
DOES ELDERBERRY NEED WATER?
Cuttings especially need water while they grow roots. Ensure soil is always sufficiently moist during the rooting period.
SHOULD I MULCH ELDERBERRY?
Honestly, first year elderberry bushes do not compete well with grass and weeds. So make sure there is a some kind of ground cover like black plastic to entirely stops weeds from interfering with root development. On second or third year - if you used plastic, once elderberry roots are more established you can remove plastic and replace with biological mulch like wood chips or straw.
DO I NEED TWO ELDERBERRY VARIETIES TO GET FLOWERS AND BERRIES?
It is now reported that elderberry bushes do not require two varieties for good pollination and good berry set. However we always suggest planting several varieties. It may improve pollination, and you never know which variety will grow best in your unique microclimate! That's why we have 28 varieties!
HOW BIG DO ELDERBERRY BUSHES GET?
Elderberry can grow to 7-11 ft high and wide or more if left unpruned, so plant 6 ft apart or every 2-4 ft for a hedge.
SHOULD I PRUNE ELDERBERRY?
Prune to desired size during winter dormancy for ease of harvest. We suggests cutting out two year old stems and pruning back the new shoots (primocanes) down to 2 feet.
Lastly, have fun and be well! Plus let us know how it goes!
Your elderberry syrup farmers,
Jed & Louise
FAQs
HOW LONG DOES ELDERBERRY SYRUP LAST?
Our elderberry syrup, elderberry shrub and elderberry juice have a 2 year shelf life.
Once open, store in fridge and enjoy syrup and shrub within 4 months and the juice within 4 weeks. Of course some people report open syrup etc keeping well for more than a year in the fridge.
HOW DO YOU USE ELDERBERRY SYRUP?
We enjoy elderberry syrup, shrub or juice straight up served in a spoon or shot glass, added to bubbly water, in cocktails, smoothies, mixed in salad dressings, in ginger tea, with juice or kombucha, on ice cream, as a marinade, with oatmeal, homemade gummies and yes... pancakes too.
WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SYRUP AND THE SHRUB?
Our syrup and shrub are made with our farm grown fresh squeezed pure elderberry juice. The syrup is blended with more honey than the shrub which has apple cider vinegar. Shrub is our most popular offering and even folks who have had discouraging experiences with vinegar in the past are quick to agree this stuff is the best!
WHATS ELDERBERRY GOOD FOR?
Elderberry has been a treasured food and medicine for thousands of years. Its an adaptive native plant to North-America and Europe. Elderberry is an amazing food for humans, animals, birds and insects alike!
From helping with colds and flus, to reducing inflammation, alleviating arthritis and tasting really good - elderberry is becoming a staple in peoples homes again.
Read about the health benefits here:
https://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-elderberry.html
https://www.midwest-elderberry.coop/health-nutrition/
https://realfarmacy.com/tiny-elderberry-beats-flu-prevents-colds-strengthens-immunity/
HOW MUCH ELDERBERRY SYRUP DO YOU TAKE?
Our elderberry syrup and shrub have 3,300 mg of elderberry per teaspoon / 5 ml while the juice has 4,800 mg of elderberry per teaspoon / 5 ml. If you take a look at other elderberry offerings you'll quickly notice ours has two to six times more elderberry per serving! How do we do it? We press fresh berries unlike the other offerings that are from dried or powdered stuff and with added water. We give ya only the best because thats what we like too!
