Blue Elderberry (Sambucus caerulea)
Blue Elderberry is a very valuable native food bush/ small tree. It's also an incredibly beautiful bush with a lot of wildlife value! It has three seasons of garden interest with the beautiful lush leaves that sprout in the Spring, large white umbel flowers appear through Summer, followed by those beautiful blue berries it's most known for! Both the flowers and berries are edible once cooked, are highly nutritious, and can be make into delicious syrups, wines, pies, and jellies. Blue Elderberry, like the Red Elderberry, is beloved by wildlife of all kinds. Song birds value it for the abundance of insects drawn to it Spring through early Summer, followed by the delicious berries beginning in late Summer until they're all gone. Blue and Red Elderberry bushes are very complementary in the garden setting. Red Elderberry blooms easily a month earlier than the Blue, extending their beautiful flower show.
Elderberry's tend grow rapidly. It's not uncommon for a one gallon plant to reach heights of 10-15 feet in a couple of years. On the West Coast they are also surprisingly drought tolerant once established. While Red Elderberry's tend to be found most commonly along shady forest edges and riparian environments, the Blue Elderberry is most often found inland/ upland growing on cliffs, hills, roadsides, and sunny forest edges. Blue Elderberry can tolerate regular garden water as long as the soil is well draining, but it doesn't require it once established. Blue Elderberry can reach 10-30 ft in height x 10-30 ft wide in its maturity, and makes a wonderful shade tree for small yards. Elderberries take pruning very well, making them an excellent option for smaller spaces.
Each seed packet contains 60 seeds and germination instructions are included.
Blue Elderberry at a glance
- Ave. growth dimensions - 10-30 ft tall x 10-30 ft wide
- Dormancy - Winter deciduous
- Plant type - Shrub/ small tree
- Sun - Sun - part shade
- Water - Moist - dry
- Flowering time - May - August
- Flower color - White
- Soil preference - Adaptable, as long as soil has good drainage