How Big Do Red Elderberry Bushes Get?

10-20 ft tall.
Description: Red elderberry is a large deciduous shrub or small tree of the Honeysuckle family that grows 10-20 ft tall with a broad arching form.

How much space do elderberry bushes need?

6-8 feet apart
Planting Tips
Plant elderberries 6-8 feet apart in rows 10 feet apart. Plant 2 inches deeper than grown in the nursery. Water the plant thoroughly. No fertilizers should be applied in the first year.

Where’s the best place to plant an elderberry bush?

To get the most flowers and berries, plant elderberries in full sun. Partial shade can be tolerated if you are growing the plant for its decorative foliage. Plant elderberries in the ground at the same depth as their roots. Elderberries are shallow-rooted, so keep them well watered through the first growing season.

Are red elderberries good?

While the seeds of the red elderberry are poisonous, if they are removed, the berries can be eaten raw or cooked. In their raw form, these berries (and seeds) were specifically helpful to Native Americans as they were used as an emetic and purgative to detoxify the bodily system in laxative form.

What is the smallest elderberry bush?

Dwarf elderberry
Dwarf elderberry: Dwarf elderberry (Sambucus ebulus) is the smallest of the elderberry varieties, growing only up to two feet tall and mainly producing toxic berries. It thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8.

Are elderberry roots invasive?

Currently, S. canadensis is listed as invasive in South Africa and Cuba where it is altering successional processes in disturbed areas. It also has a shallow, aggressive root system with the potential to displace native vegetation.

Are elderberry bushes messy?

The wood has a soft, pithy center which means branches are more breakable and trunks may not be long-lived. These qualities have led some authors to the conclusion that elderberry is a big, coarse, sloppy shrub for the wild garden.

Are elderberries toxic to dogs?

Are they safe for our dogs? Unfortunately, the short answer is no; elderberries are not safe for dogs to consume. However, there is a bit of an exception, which can confuse dog parents on the topic of elderberries. Perfectly ripe elderberries are safe and nutritious for both dogs and humans.

Do elderberry plants spread?

American elderberry tolerates a wide variety of wet to dry soils but prefers rich, moist, slightly acidic soil in sun to partial shade. Plants will spread by root sucker and will form thickets if the suckers are not removed. In summer, small white flowers are borne in dense clusters.

How long does it take for an elderberry bush to produce fruit?

American elderberries have a moderate growth rate, growing 6 to 12 feet tall within three years of planting. These plants spread through suckers to become a dense hedge. They typically begin producing fruit within two to three years of planting, as well.

What is the difference between red and black elderberry?

Unlike black elderberries — which get a bad rap as “poisonous,” though their toxicity is quite low — red berried elder is considerably higher in compounds that can make you very sick, called cyanogenic glycosides.

Can red elderberry be eaten?

Uses of the Red Elderberry
Its berries, which are poisonous if eaten raw, are said to be safe to eat when cooked and were reportedly used as an ingredient in a variety of recipes by Native Americans. Some used the berry to make wine. Others cooked the fruit to make jelly and jam.

Do birds eat red elderberries?

Although the berries are loved by birds and many mammals, they are mildly toxic to humans, if not cooked. Thrushes, grouse, robins, pigeons, sparrows, warblers, and sapsuckers are among the birds that eat the berries. Hummingbirds and butterflies use nectar from the flowers.

Can you keep elderberry small?

Plant in an area they will have room to grow. Don’t worry if you don’t have a ton of space, with pruning you can keep them smaller. I have one bush near our back patio and fireplace and yearly pruning keeps it at a manageable size. Elderberries grow in zones 3 through 10.

Is elderberry a tree or a shrub?

Elderberry plants are deciduous and are commonly many-trunked shrubs or small trees. The pinnately compound leaves are borne oppositely along the stems and have toothed leaflets.

Do you need 2 elderberry bushes to get fruit?

Berries. Elderberries need cross-pollination for berry production. Plant more than one variety. Do a quick check online or with your local nursery to make sure you’re getting plants that cross-pollinate one another.

Do birds eat elderberry berries?

Elderberry plants will bring a large variety of birds, including warblers, orioles, tanagers, catbirds, waxwings, mockingbirds, and thrashers.

When should I plant elderberry?

Since they can grow up to 12 feet tall and six feet across, mature bushes will need lots of room to thrive. Elderberries should be planted in the spring, once the danger of frost has passed.

How do you stop elderberry from spreading?

Thus a plant that once took up a two foot circle can expand greatly over the years as the root system spreads. A lawn mower can easily keep this in check. In spring when the shoots come up, mow them off. This will keep the elderberry from expanding past where you want it to be.

Should elderberry be cut back in the fall?

Pruning an elderberry shrub is a fairly simple task and should take place in winter when the plant is dormant. Before you begin trimming elderberry plants, as when pruning any fruit-bearing plants, sanitize the pruning shears to avoid passing on potential diseases.

How do you winterize elderberry bushes?

The branches of the plant should be tied in towards the center, then a circle of hardware cloth can be placed around the outside. The base of the hardware cloth should be buried in the soil or mulch. This protection should be installed in late November and removed in mid April.