American elder (Sambucus caerulea and canadensis)
American elder (Sambucus caerulea
and canadensis)
Young plants about 15 - 30 cm high, grown in 7 cm pots.
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Large Shrubs
S. caerulea Sold out
£6.50
S. canadensis
Sold out
£7.00
The American elders are useful and decorative, great for elder-flower champagne!
We have two species of American elder, the blue-berried elder S. caerulea and the
S. canadensis. Both are as easy to grow as our
European elders, shrubby small trees though possibly a little larger, and very at home in a woodland edge, orchard or semi-shady spot.
S. canadensis
is a particularly useful plant if you want plenty of flowers for cordials and wine, as they will continue to bloom if the flowers are not pollinated, for which you need two plants of the same species. So by growing just one on it's own you should have plenty elder-flowers all summer long! The berries (if you have two plants) are prolific, small and purple, excellent for winemaking.
So too are the blue berries of the S. caerulea, which are decorative, with a lovely bloom and are said to be the best flavoured of all the elders.
