Elderberry
Elderberry: plant 220 cm (87 in) apart in the row and 320 cm (126 in) between rows, 1 plant per 100 squares. Good neighbours: Chives, Garlic, Marigold.
Key facts
| Spacing in the row | 220 cm (87 in) |
|---|---|
| Between rows | 320 cm (126 in) |
| In a 30 cm (1 ft) square | 1 plant per 100 squares |
| Sun | Part sun, 4–6 hours a day |
| Root depth | 40 cm (16 in) |
| Height when grown | 350 cm (138 in) |
| Crop rotation group | Herbs, flowers and perennials |
| Support | None needed |
Planting
| How it is started | From a bought plant, from cuttings |
|---|---|
| Cuttings per planting hole | 1 |
| When to plant | Outdoors before the last frost; soil at least 8 °C |
Care
| Takes transplanting | Only with care, keep the root ball |
|---|---|
| Hardening off | 10–14 days |
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Cold tolerance | Takes a light frost → hardy, takes hard frost |
| Soil | Rich, with compost, stays moist, pH 5.5–7.5 |
| In a pot | — |
| Watering | Water when the soil is dry two fingers down; at flowering, while fruit sets |
| Feeding | Moderate; in spring, after harvest |
| Support and training | None needed; prune |
Harvest and planning
| Days to first harvest | 2–3 years, from planting |
|---|---|
| Ready when | The fruit has its full colour |
| Harvest window | All at once, 2–4 weeks |
| Typical yield | 4–12 kg per plant |
| Botanical family | Adoxaceae |
| Watch out for | Aphids, birds |
| First crop after | 2–3 years |
| Pollination | Needs another variety nearby |
Good neighbours
Chives
Garlic◐
Marigold◐
Yarrow◐
Borage
Calendula◐
Sweet alyssum◐◐ good with a condition · Why, with the sources →
Plan Elderberry in your garden
Open the free planner, drop Elderberry onto a bed and see how many plants fit.
Start Planning Your GardenSowing and harvest
| Plant out | Oct–Nov |
|---|---|
| Harvest | Aug–Sep |
My dates for this crop
Give the date once and this page, the sowing calendar and the planner all follow it.
- Not recommended
- Marginal
- Conditional
- Favourable
Months for a temperate climate: about a month later in the north and a month earlier in the south. Give your own last frost date for exact dates.
Grown much the same way
Crops that need about the same room and care, from another family.
Sea buckthorn
Grapevine
Kiwi
Blueberry
Goji
Red currantSources
The values on this page marked as checked come from these sources: spacing, sowing depth, germination, soil, timing and safety notes, each against the source named here.
- Spacing of Small Fruits in the Home Garden — Iowa State University Extension for: between rows, spacing in the row; checked 2026-10-31
Strawberry
Raspberry
Blackberry
Blackcurrant
Gooseberry
Aronia