Elderberry
Seed # 37
Basic Information
- Seed Number
- 37
- Seed Name
- Elderberry
- Variety
- Not recorded
- Category
- Medicinal
- Plant Family
- Viburnaceae
- Plant Type
- American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
- Planting Method
- Direct Sow or Transplant
- Seed Status
- In Seed Bank
- Created
- 2026-08-14 00:50:34
- Updated
- 2026-08-19 15:35:29
Planting Information
- Start Planting Date
- Aug 1
- Last Recommended Planting Date
- Nov 30
- Plantable Months
- August, September, October, November
- Indoor Start
- Not recorded
- Direct Sow
- Aug 1 – Nov 30
- Transplant
- Apr 15 – May 31
- Indoor Start Weeks Before Frost
- Not Recommended
- Transplant Weeks After Frost
- Not recorded
- Germination Days
- 30–90 days
- Harvest/Maturity
- Not recorded
- Succession Planting
- Not recorded
Growing Conditions
- Ideal Soil Temperature
- Not recorded
- Planting Depth
- 1/2 in
- Plant Spacing
- 6-15 ft
- Row Spacing
- 10-15 ft
- Thin-To Spacing
- Not recorded
- Sun Requirements
- Full sun to partial shade; best fruiting in full sun
- Water Needs
- Prefers consistent moisture; water regularly during establishment and dry periods
- Soil Preference
- Rich, moist, slightly acidic soil; tolerates a wide range of soils including seasonally wet sites
- Minimum Container Size
- Not recorded
- Plant Height
- 5-12 ft
- Perennial/Biennial Status
- Perennial
- Container Friendly
- No
- Trellis/Support Needed
- No
- Frost Tolerant
- Yes
- Heat Tolerant
- Yes
- Drought Tolerant
- No
- Pollinator Friendly
- Yes
- Medicinal
- Yes
Garden Uses
Culinary Dye Medicinal Pollinator Seed Saving TeaCompanion Planting
| Plant | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Strawberry | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Yarrow | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Yarrow | Good Companion | Not recorded |
Storage
- Seed Source/Brand
- MSU Extension; Detroit frost dates; Almanac Detroit
- Packet Year
- Not recorded
- Quantity Notes
- Not recorded
- Purchase Date
- Not recorded
- Expiration Year
- Not recorded
- Storage Box
- Not recorded
- Container
- Not recorded
- Envelope
- Not recorded
- Row
- Not recorded
- Slot
- Not recorded
- Storage Notes
- Not recorded
Notes
Original Planting Method: Cold stratify; start indoors or fall sow
Outdoor / Direct Sow / Transplant Window: Apr 15 – May 15; Sep 15 – Oct 15 for fall sowing
Germination Time: 30–90+ days after stratification
Days to Harvest / Bloom: Years to fruit from seed
Container Friendly: Not long-term
Succession / Reusable Notes: Permanent planting; not a yearly annual crop.
Zone 6B Notes: Seeds typically require cold stratification. Shrubs need permanent space.
Companion Plants: Comfrey, yarrow, clover, strawberries, herbs, native flowers, pollinator plants
Avoid Planting Near / Watch Outs: Dry shallow soil, cramped beds
Sources: MSU Extension: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/garden_planning_calendar | Detroit frost dates: https://www.ufseeds.com/vegetable-planting-calendar-detroit-michigan.html | Almanac Detroit: https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/MI/Detroit
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Zone 6B: American elderberry is hardy in Zone 6B. Seed propagation is slow and requires seasonal temperature changes. Fall sowing outdoors is preferred. Seedlings can be grown in pots for a year before transplanting to their permanent location.
Germination: Fresh or stored seed has dormancy. One documented artificial treatment is approximately 70 days warm and moist followed by 90 days refrigerated before sowing. Outdoor fall sowing allows natural seasonal treatment.
Harvest: Harvest entire berry clusters when fruits are uniformly dark purple-black. Elderberries should be cooked before normal culinary use; unripe berries and other plant parts should not be eaten.
Seed Saving: Collect fully ripe berries, separate seed from pulp and sow promptly for natural stratification or store seed under appropriate conditions for later pretreatment.
Special Care: Plants spread by root suckers and may form thickets. Fruit production is generally improved when more than one genetically distinct elderberry is present for cross-pollination.
Research Source: NC State Extension Plant Toolbox — https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/sambucus-canadensis/ — American elderberry identification, height, soil, moisture, sun, fruit, pollinator value and suckering habit
Research Source: Strictly Medicinal Seeds — https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/product/elderberry-american-black/ — seed sowing depth, fall sowing, warm/cold pretreatment, pot culture and transplant guidance
Research Source: University of Minnesota Extension — https://extension.umn.edu/agroforestry/growing-edible-fruits-and-nuts — elderberry hardiness and mature size
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