🍎 Elderberry
Sambucus nigra / S. canadensis
fruits deciduous shrub
☀️ Sun
full sun to partial shade
💧 Water
moist to wet; excellent for rain gardens and riparian edges
🗺️ Zones
3–9
🪴 Soil Type
moist well-drained loam, tolerates wet soil
🧪 Soil pH
5.5–7.5
📏 Spacing
6-10 ft apart (large shrub/small tree)
📅 Days to Maturity
2-3 years (from planting); begins bearing 1-2 years after establishment
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ ["Fruit"]
🤝 Companions (7)
Nutrient accumulator; elderberry is a heavy feeder and benefits from comfrey mulch
🤝 Clover
Nitrogen fixer; groundcover in moist soil
🤝 Willow (nearby)
Both thrive in moist conditions; willow's rooting hormone (salicylic acid) may benefit elderberry establishment from cuttings
Attracts beneficials; tolerates moisture
Repels aphids and elder shoot borer
Aphid trap; tolerates partial shade
🤝 Mint (contained)
Repels pests; both like moisture; keep mint in buried pot to control spread
⚠️ Keep Apart (2)
⚠️ Walnut trees
Juglone sensitivity — elderberry moderately tolerant but may stunt
⚠️ Pines
Acidic soil from pine needles; elderberry prefers neutral to slightly acidic
💊 Medicinal Uses
Contains anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-glucoside), flavonoids, and triterpenes with potent antiviral and immune-modulating properties. Clinically shown to reduce cold and flu duration by 2-4 days. Traditional European and Native American remedy for colds, flu, sinusitis, and inflammation. Flowers used for fever and as a diaphoretic. CAUTION: raw berries, seeds, leaves, and stems contain cyanogenic glycosides; must be cooked.