Planting Bare Root American Elderberries

Learn to plant bare root American elderberry plants with success in the fall.

Here at River Hills Harvest, we grow and sell American elderberry plants in various stages of growth throughout the year. These are named selections of black, Sambucus canadensis or American elderberries. Today we are going to dive into the world of bare root elderberries. Our bare root plants have just opened up for pre-orders that will ship later this fall. Click HERE to shop.

Terry Durham showing a healthy bare root of a Bob Gordon.

Bare root plants are best shipped when they are in or entering their dormant state. We can't fully control (although we'd like to say we can) how the plants grow throughout the year. Our shipping times and availability of elderberry plants depend on when it's best for them, not us. However, these bare root plants are recommended to plant in the fall, giving you a head start for the next growing season.

Bare root American elderberry plants are about the easiest to grow in terms of growth stages. Dormant hardwood cuttings require you to establish roots, where bare root plants have already been established. Rooted cuttings can be planted too late in the summer and can have a hard time adjusting to the heat, not bare root plants. We think it's the easiest way to go! If you'd like to learn more about the cycle of the year with American elderberries, give our blog post a read. Click the image below.

About Bare Root Elderberry Plants

Bare root elderberry plants will arrive to you entering their dormant state. You will likely not see new growth in the fall when you plant them, but with success, you will see healthy, new growth the following spring. Bare root plants are shipped with the soil shaken out of them, making them vulnerable to drying out in the shipping process. Don't be alarmed if the leaves look wilted and die off once you receive your plants, we will chop off the top part of the plant and sometimes leaves are left on there when shipping our bare roots. The leaves will die off and the plant will begin to go into dormancy once planted. We take steps to ensure our plants remain moist during this process, but you'll need to do some caretaking once you receive them as well.

An example of a healthy bare root elderberry plant.

Planting Bare Root American Elderberries

• We recommend planting your bare root plants within 48 hours of receiving them.

• You will want to ensure you have prepared your soil and chosen a location that offers full sun and has well-drained soil. American elderberries prefer a soil pH of 5.5-6.5.

• You will want to provide fencing, as deer are awfully fond of elderberries. For more information, visit our RESOURCES page on our website.

• When you first receive your elderberries, give them a mist of water or soak them. They will have gotten thirsty in the shipping process.

• Before planting, soak the roots for up to two hours in water.

• Dig a large enough hole to give your roots adequate room to easily grow.

• Be gentle when planting and make sure you are spreading the roots and working them around where they are in the soil and there are no air gaps.

• If there are small air gaps, thoroughly watering after you plant should take care of these.

• You will also want to mulch your elderberry after it has been planted so it can retain moisture in the soil better. Mixing in and topping off with some good fungal compost is ideal.

• Be sure to keep watering your elderberry throughout the season, although you may not see growth, the roots are still in need of water. In the winter, you can water less often.

What To Expect

• Before buying a bare root elderberry, read up on the selection you have chosen to ensure it's a good fit for your location.

  • Selections like Pocahontas get much taller and larger than others but need a longer grow season to fully produce and can be susceptible to wind damage.

  • The Ranch selection does well in harsh growth conditions such as high heat and wind.

  • Visit the RESOURCES page on our website to learn more about the different selections.

• If you've planted in the fall, the following spring your elderberry plant will be in its second year. You should see some berries and notice your plants get a good size, however once they hit their third year you will see much larger plants and more production of berries. Be sure to understand how big your elderberry will get.

• Expect to keep it watered all the time. American elderberries love water, but also well-drained soil. The demise of many elderberries is they have simply dried out due to not being watered.

Support American Farmers

We want our customers to be successful growing a great medicine for their families. We think planting bare root elderberries is the easiest way to ensure your farm or garden thrives. At River Hills Harvest we are farmer owned and believe in the power of buying local. If you aren't buying from us, support other local elderberry farmers and buy American elderberry plants, or Sambucus canadensis.

Terry showing off a large American elderflower head!

Click HERE to visit the Plants & Supplies page on our website to see what elderberries we may have available right now. We also have an array of elderberry processing and destemming equipment we have designed and use with success, available throughout the year on our website.

We are finding out lots of cool things about how our American elderberries are superior to others found across the world. Give our blog post, American Elderberry Syrup a read to learn more about the properties of Sambucus canadensis berries. Subscribe to our newsletters to receive the latest articles/studies regarding our American elderberries and your health. And be sure to follow us on Facebook & Instagram to stay updated on the latest news.

Until next time, cheers to your health!

Heather

I am Heather Wilson, of the River Hills Harvest crew. By being part of the company, I am blessed to have access to American elderberries in all forms. I enjoy experimenting with new ways to incorporate them into my diet, as well as other natural plants, berries and more. I have a background in greenhouse management as well as floral design and am involved in the art community as an artist, when time allows. I enjoy playing guitar and writing songs. I also enjoy wandering in nature with no real purpose, because a purpose always presents itself. It’s a busy life, but one that I love and feel lucky to be a part of.