Elderberries for Medicine, Tea, Food and Wine - GardensAll

Elderberries for Medicine, Tea, Food and Wine

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Enchanting Elderberries

After publishing our article on Best Herbs for Colds and Flu1), on , quite a discussion ensued on our Facebook page with folks wanting to know more about Elderberries.

What zone do they grow in? What variety to grow? Are they hard to grow? How do the berries taste? (Hint: they're usually

cooked or turned into wine) How big do they get? Is it a shrub or a tree? So... we went sleuthing online to find some answers for you and for us... and we've added elderberries to our yard this year. If you're already growing elderberries, please share comments here or over on the Gardens All Facebook page.

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How to Grow Elderberry Plants

Excerpted from article by Kathee Mierzejewski on Growing elderberries is not all that difficult. They can tolerate different conditions like soil that is in poor condition or soil that is too wet. One thing growing elderberries cannot tolerate, however, is drought. When planting elderberry bushes, you should note that the berries will grow on the bushes the first year you plant them. Just remember that the berries will do better the second year. Elderberry planting is done best on well-drained loamy soil. Sandy soils should be improved by adding a few inches of organic matter.1)2) When elderberry planting, make sure to allow for cross-pollination. Therefore, two or more cultivars can be planted near each other. This allows for the necessary cross-pollination. When planting elderberry bushes, plant them one meter apart in rows that are four to five meters apart. Make sure you do your elderberry planting early in the spring. After planting, be sure to water them so they get a good start.3)

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More on Growing Elderberry

Excerpted from

Elderberries are one of the easiest and most versatile shrubs to grow in your edible landscape. These Central European and North American natives are often found growing wild along roadsides, forest edges, and abandoned fields.

The prize for growing elderberries is the fragrant, edible flowers and the delicious fruits. The dark purple berries contain vitamins A and B, and more vitamin C than oranges. They are also high in cancer-fighting antioxidants. In fact, elderberry fruits have historically been used to treat many ailments, such as respiratory problems, colds, and flus. Plus, they are tasty when used in juices, jellies, jams, teas, pies, and wine. You can use the umbrella-shaped, elderberry blossoms for making a delicious fritters or even champagne (see recipe in this issue). And if you don't want to eat the berries, the birds certainly will love them.

Planning

Elderberries fruit best when you plant at least two different varieties within 60 feet of each other. They start producing when the plants are 2 to 3 years old. While all elderberries produce berries, there are several varieties of the American elderberry that are especially good fruit producers.

Elderberries Grow in Zones 3-8 in North America

Top Elderberries for Fruit Production in North America

Adams ? This American variety grows 8 to 10 feet tall. The large, juicy, dark purple fruits ripen in August and are great for making pies. The strong branches hold the berries upright. Plant a pollinator variety such as `Johns' for maximum fruiting. This variety is often sold as `Adams No. 1' or `Adams No. 2'. There is little difference between these two selections.

Black Beauty ? This striking European variety features purple foliage and lemon-scented pink flowers. It grows 6 to 8 feet tall and wide and can be grown in perennial borders or as a foundation plant.

Black Lace ? This eye-catching European selection looks like a Japanese maple with its dark purple, deeply cut foliage. Like `Black Beauty', this variety also grows 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, producing pink flowers and dark purple fruits.

Johns? This early-producing American variety produces an abundance of berries that are especially good for making jelly. Growing 12 feet tall and wide, this variety is a good pollinator for `Adams'.

Nova ? This American variety can be self-fruitful, but does best with another American elderberry

growing nearby. Large, sweet fruit are produced on compact, 6-foot shrub. Variegated ? This European variety has attractive green and white leaves and grows 6 to 8 feet tall and wide. The plant is less vigorous and productive than other elderberry varieties, but the foliage is attractive all season long. York ? This American variety produces the largest berries of all the elderberry selections. It matures in late August and only grows 6 feet tall and wide. It pollinates `Nova' well.1) Elderberry Books on Amazon

So we've planted our own elderberries bushes this year, for the medicinal benefits, the beautiful flowers (which you can use in tea and salads), and for the beauty it adds to the landscape as well as for the berries for syrups and teas.

Keep on growing!

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