Melinda Myers

American Elder

Botanical Name

Sambucus canadensis

Hardiness

Zones 3 to 9

Height

5 to 12 feet

Width

5 to 12 feet

Flowers

Early summer: white

Fruit

Purple-black berry-like drupes

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil

Prefers moist soil

Planting & Care

• Transplants easily
• pH adaptable
• Remove dead wood in spring
• Prune to control size

Problems

Cankers, leaf spot, powdery mildew, borers

Varieties

• Aurea - gold foliage, 10'
• Variegata - leaves are margined in creamy yellow-white, provide afternoon shade to prevent scorch
• Laciniata - deeply incised leaflets, 8'