×2Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Pollinators
- Butterflies & moths
- Shelter & nesting
Butterflies and bees visit the flowers, songbirds eat the berries, birds nest in the branches, and stem-nesting bees use old canes.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 2–3 ft tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native shrub · edible
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
- Ships 2–3 ft tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 3–9
- Grows 5–12 ft
$11.95Was $14.95Save 20%
5.0 out of 5 · 1 reviewsThe quick answer
American elderberry is a fast-growing native shrub for USDA zones 3-9 that grows 5-12 ft tall and 6-12 ft wide in full sun to part shade. It is grown for dark berries used cooked in syrup, jam and wine, plus big white flower clusters for pollinators. Plant two for a full crop; fruit starts in 2-3 years.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
This plant needs a partner. Elderberry is only partly self-fruitful, so plant a second elderberry (another seedling or a different variety) within about 60 ft for a full crop.
Expert recommendedPollination partners we sell
-
×2Plant 2 American ElderberryEach seedling is genetically different, so two or more pollinate each other.
Planting a hedge or row?
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
American Elderberry plant profile
Mature size5–12 ft tall · 6–12 ft wide
Typical (5 ft)Up to 12 ft
Multi-stemmed, arching shrub that spreads by root suckers.
USDA hardiness zones3–9
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Full sun to part shade; best fruiting in full sun. Fruit in about 2–3 years.
SoilpH 5.5–7.0
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers rich, moist, slightly acidic soil and tolerates wet sites but not drought.
Native to the USEdible harvestPlant two or moreYellow fall colorHedge & screen
Flowers & fruit
- Fruit in 2–3 yrs
- Edible
Flat clusters of creamy white flowers in early summer are followed by dark purple-black berries in late summer that should be cooked before eating.
Leaves & fall color
Yellow in fall. Pinnately compound green leaves turn yellow in fall.
Pests & disease
Usually trouble-free; aphids, borers and powdery mildew can occur, and birds compete for fruit.
Pruning
In late winter, remove dead canes and canes over three years old at ground level, keeping a mix of 1-, 2- and 3-year-old canes.
Pollination
One American Elderberry won't give you much of a crop. Two will.
Partly self-fruitful; plant two or more elderberries for a full crop. Shipping on one plant is $9.95 and on two it's $10.95, so the second plant adds just $1 in shipping.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your American Elderberry
SPRINGCompound leaves emerge
SUMMERFlat creamy white flower clusters in early summer
LATE SUMMERDark purple-black berries ripen in August-September
FALLYellow leaves
Questions people ask about American Elderberry
Do I need two elderberry plants?
Yes for a good harvest; elderberry is only partly self-fruitful, so a second elderberry nearby greatly improves fruit set.
Can you eat raw elderberries?
Cook them first; raw or unripe berries, and all stems, leaves and roots, contain compounds that can cause nausea.
How fast does elderberry grow and fruit?
It grows fast, often fruits the second or third year, and reaches full production in 3-4 years.
Does elderberry spread?
Yes, it spreads by root suckers and forms thickets unless suckers are removed.
How should I prune elderberry?
In late winter, cut out dead canes and canes older than three years at ground level.
What will my elderberry look like when it arrives?
It ships as a dormant bare-root plant about 2-3 ft tall with no leaves.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Plant its partner nearby.
Customer Reviews
Based on 1 review
100%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
R
Plant arrive as part of a larger order of 15 or so different varieties of fruit trees/bushes. All arrived as promised and looked healthy with nice roots. Very pleased with everything so far as 11 of 15 are already showing new leaves. We are in zone 7a, so early spring conditions.
Plant facts checked October 2026 against: NC State Extension, University of Wisconsin–Madison, https://dnr.state.md.us/forests/Documents/Agroforestry_Pollination-Propagation-Pruning.pdf.