Ranch American Elderberry (Sambucus Canadensis) – 1 Gallon Pot

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 3a-9b  Find Your Zone

Pollinators: Any other variety of Elderberry

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Fruit Color:  Deep Purple-Blue to Black

Fruit Flavor: Sweet 

Fruit Size:  Small in large clusters

Sun Needs:  Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Light Shade

Water Needs:  Average

The Ranch Elderberry is a beautiful and vigorous native American flowering and edible fruiting shrub that will grow almost anywhere in the United States. At 5 to 6 feet tall and wide, it grows a little smaller and more upright than other varieties, which makes harvesting the berries easier. It also handles wide temperature swings better. It is a semi-spur bearer meaning heavy yields of berries. Unlike other elderberry varieties, Ranch will grow in infertile soils and is drought tolerant, not to mention pest and disease resistant. Based on your location, the berries ripen in late August to early September. It has pinnately compound leaves on gracefully arching branches that support abundant flat-topped clusters of pretty white flowers during summer. The flowers retain their beauty as they turn golden brown and are followed by abundant large clusters of sweet, dark purple-black berries that are well known for being high in nutrients and antioxidants. The berries contain more than four times the antioxidant value of cherries. Though the berries aren’t good for fresh eating, they are excellent for use in making pie, jam, syrup and Elderberry wine. A remarkable, useful, and beautiful native plant that deserves a spot in every garden!

Though partially self-fertile, Ranch Elderberry will benefit by producing more berries from a pollinator, which can be any other variety of Elderberry.