Growing elder trees
Find out how to grow elder, both as a shrub and a tree, in our detailed Grow Guide.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |||||
| Flowers | yes | yes | yes | |||||||||
| Fruits | yes | yes |
Common elder (Sambucus nigra) is a pretty, native shrub or small ornamental tree with tiny white, fragrant flowers in early summer followed by small black fruits. The foliage is also attractive, with green and dark, almost black-leaved varieties available, some with very finely cut and highly ornamental leaves. Elder flowers can be used to infuse syrups, cordial and gin and elder berries can be used to make syrups and wine – they should not be eaten raw as they can cause nausea. Commonly found in country hedgerows, allotments and gardens, elder is a good choice for a mixed border or mixed native hedge, or a wildlife or woodland planting scheme –
Identifying elder trees
Elder trees have rough, furrowed bark and pinnate leaves with five to seven leaflets. Flowers are large, cream sprays, with a strong fragrance, and appear from May. They mature into clusters of small, purple-black berries.
How long do elder trees live?
Elder trees are relatively short-lived, compared to other types of tree. They can live for up to 60 years, although regular pruning may see garden specimens live longer.
Size, height and spread
If left unpruned, elder trees grow to a height of around 15m, but more typically reach heights of around 4-8m in gardens. Pruning can restrict its size considerably, and elder is commonly grown as a shrub in gardens. A regularly pruned elder can maintain a height and spread of 4m x 2m.
Value to wildlife
Elder flowers are attractive to pollinators and birds such as blackbirds eat the berries. Several moth caterpillars feed on elder leaves, including the white-spotted pug and buff ermine.
Growing elder trees
Where to grow an elder tree
Elder is tolerant of most soils, but will get off to a good start in moist but well-drained soil. Choose a position in full sun to partial shade.
How to plant an elder tree
Plant a young elder tree in autumn, digging a generous hole and adding mycorrhizal fungi to encourage root growth. Plant bare-root whips and small elder trees from autumn to spring, providing the soil isn't frozen.
How to care for an elder tree
Elder trees need very little care, once established. Keep newly planted trees well watered, and water established trees in very dry weather.
How to prune an elder tree
If you're growing elder as a shrub, prune it back annually to maintain its shape. Prune hard – down to a few stumps in the ground – for the best results. New stems bear bigger, better coloured leaves than those left unpruned.
In this video guide, Monty Don explains how much to prune away and where to make the cuts:
How to propagate elder
Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and early autumn, or hardwood cuttings in winter.
Pests and diseases
Elder is a tough, native tree, which rarely suffers from pests or diseases. Some species suffer from black fly on young shoots. These are usually removed by birds and other predators, but you could also use soap sprays to manually remove them.
Elder varieties to grow
- Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ – good for a long season of interest, with finely cut, almost black foliage, and pink-flushed blooms in summer. In autumn, its leaves turn a rich red.
- Sambucus nigra ‘Marginata’ – a variegated elder with good year-round interest. Small scented, white flowers appear in spring, followed by black berries in late summer, and the foliage is striking with yellow-margined, dark green leaves.
- Sambucus nigra ‘Black Beauty’ – a very ornamental cultivar with almost black foliage and sweet, lemon scented, pale pink flowers in early summer.
- Sambucus nigra ‘Golden Tower’ – this has a more narrow, upright habit, which makes it a good for smaller gardens. The finely cut foliage is a vibrant golden green colour with clusters of white flowers appearing in summer.
- Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla 'Guincho Purple’ - grows up to 6m high, with stunning foliage that starts out green, turning purple and red through the seasons. Typical elder flowers appear in spring with black fruits following in late summer and autumn.
- Sambucus racemosa 'Sutherland Gold' – a medium-sized elder, typical clusters of creamy flowers appear in spring, but this cultivar is prized for its bright, golden yellow, finely cut foliage.
Frequently asked questions
How do I take cuttings of my Sambucus nigra?
If you want to grow another Sambucus nigra from cuttings of an existing plant, the best time of year to do so is in early summer when you can take softwood cuttings, late summer or early autumn for semi-ripe cuttings, and winter for hardwood cuttings.
How do I prune Sambucus ‘Black Lace’?
If you are growing ‘Black Lace’ as a shrub for foliage, then it's usually cut back hard to a low framework in late winter or early spring once it's a couple of years old. This will produce better-coloured leaves, but at the expense of flowers. Alternatively, you could prune back a third of the stems each year to maintain growth of different ages or simply leave it unpruned if you prefer.
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