
Have you ever gathered plump, juicy berries into your apron and whisked them to the kitchen to make syrup, wine, or jam?
I’m no Julie Andrews and I don’t (usually) twirl and sing in my kitchen, but gathering food and therapeutic herbs from my yard does make things feel a little more magical, and some singing may be involved.
With that in mind, I thought I’d share my process for planting elderberry cuttings so that you can have your very own berries to harvest.
Benefits Of Elderberry
Like the common backyard weed I use to make our “first aid” ointment, elderberry has a variety of benefits and uses.
Elderberries have long been revered for their ability to support the immune system, and newer research suggests they can also help the body absorb vitamin C, too. (1)
Elderberry syrup is a favorite traditional way to prepare it, and for just .000001% more effort the syrup can be transformed into elderberry and strawberry jam. The berries to make elderberry tea or fizzy soda, and the flowers can also be used to make homemade soda in the late summer.
I could go on and on, but the bottom like is that word is getting out about elderberry, and that is AWESOME!
Except when it’s not, because all of a sudden elderberry retailers everywhere are out-of-stock due to high demand. Yikes.
Fortunately, elderberry bushes are both beautiful and easy to grow. Several of you have asked for step-by-step instructions, so I put together this post for you.
I cover the most common questions I’ve heard about growing elderberries, plus step-by-step instructions for growing elderberries from cuttings.
First, let’s find out if elderberries grow where you live
Elderberry bushes are very hardy and do well in zones 3-8. You can type in your zip code here to find out what zone you’re in.
Wondering how long it will take to get berries?
This summer you’ll get elderflowers, which you can use to make syrup, tea or lemonade. (See step five for details.)
By next summer you’ll have juicy elderberries to use in homemade pies, jam, jelly, wine, syrup and soda – yum!

Growing Elderberry From Cuttings: Step-By-Step Instructions
Because I’m not an expert on anything garden-related, I enlisted the help of elderberry expert Rodger Lenhardt of Norm’s Farms to make sure this post is accurate and helpful. (Thanks Rodger!)
Step 1: Find Or Order Your Elderberry Bush
If you know of a friend or neighbor that has an elderberry bush, ask them if you can get a clipping. If not, chances are good that if you ask around someone will know where to get one. You might post on Facebook to see if anyone in your extended community has a bush they’d be willing to let you take a clipping from.
Tip: Use Two Varieties for Bigger Fruit
According to this article:
Cross pollination is not required to produce fruit, but flowers that are cross-pollinated will produce larger fruit–it is beneficial to have two cultivars of elderberry in close proximity.”
In other words, if you plant two different varieties within 60 feet of each other you increase the fruitfulness of both. Norm’s Farm sells two varieties:
Step 2: Gather Your Elderberry Cuttings
While the bush is dormant – usually January through March – use pruning shears to cut a 8-9 inch section of elderberry cane, aka its hard, woody stem. You want the cut to be slanted to improve the cane’s ability to draw up moisture.
According to this article, it’s best to “focus on stems that are very green in spring, those that are sturdy but thinner than the older canes at the center of the clump . . . Choose ones that are about as big around as your little finger and located on the edges of the thicket.”

Step 3: Encourage Root Growth
And by encourage, I don’t mean grab your pom poms and cheer. (Though you can totally do that if you want to.)
There are two main ways to help your trimmings establish healthy, strong roots.
The Water Method
Place your trimmings (cut side down) in a mason jar and add water until they are halfway submerged. Place the jar in a sunny area for 6-8 weeks, changing the water often.
Spritz the trimmings with water occasionally – elderberry bushes love a humid environment.
Roots grown in water are more fragile than ones grown in soil, so wait until they look very sturdy before transferring.
When they’re ready and there is not risk of freezing temperatures, plant the elderberry bush into quality soil – the kind that you’d use in a vegetable garden – with good drainage.
The Soil Method
Place your trimmings (cut side down) in a mason jar and add water until they are halfway submerged.
Allow them to soak for 12-24 hours and then transfer them to pots filled with good, organic soil. (The kind you would use in a vegetable garden.)
Keep the pots moist so that the cuttings don’t dry out. They need a humid environment to encourage growth, so either:
- Place them in a greenhouse
- Place a plastic bag over the top to trap in moisture and create a greenhouse-like effect, then set the pot in a sunny area.
The trimmings will send out leaves and then grow roots – at about the 6-8 week mark, gently tug on the cutting to assess root development. If they seem like they need more time that’s okay – according to Rodger it can take six to twelve weeks to see significant root growth.
Once they’re well established and there is not risk of freezing temperatures, it’s time to plant the elderberry cane (roots intact) into the soil.

Step 4: Planting Your Elderberry Bush
First, choose your location. According to Norm’s Farms:
Fully rooted elderberries should be planted in the spring or fall for success. Regardless of the season, unless you are planting an ornamental like the Black Lace or Lemony Lace elderberry, you want to choose a site that will allow the plant to get as much as 12 feet tall and 8-10 feet across as well.
Regardless of the type of elderberry you are planting, the site should receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day and remember; Elderberry likes water!
If you are considering planting the shrub in a location that will make it difficult or impossible to water every week, make sure that spot is near a creek or drainage ditch that drains areas above it so that the plant gets every opportunity for a good drink as often as Mother Nature will allow. Most thriving wild-growing elderberries can be found growing on creek banks and drainage ditches for this very reason.
Next, it’s time to plant:
All elderberries enjoy a good loamy soil. Loamy soils are those that drain well and contain the nutrients plants need to grow. The best way to create a loamy soil in your garden is to add organic matter to it every year.
Since you’ll be planting your elderberry in a hole and hopefully not moving it again, we recommend digging a hole two feet deep and two to three feet wide for your elderberry. Once all the soil is removed from the hole, mix enough high-quality organic compost into the soil so that the resulting mixture is about 50% organic compost and 50% soil removed from the ground.
Return enough soil to the hole so that the elderberry bush, when planted, will be even with the soil grade around it. Remove your elderberry bush from its pot and inspect the roots. Healthy roots should be white to cream colored, and some may even have a bit of a fuzzy appearance.
If the plant is root-bound, (all you can see is a tangle of roots growing in a spiral), gently rough up the outside of the root ball to encourage the roots to grow outwards instead of in the spiral.
Place the unpotted elderberry into the hole, again checking to make sure that the top of the elderberry’s roots will be either even with or just slightly below the surrounding grade. Do not plant your elderberry high as it will dry out too often.
Return enough of the mixed soil and organic matter to the hole to fill it and, using your fist or your feet, gently tamp the soil down all around the elderberry to make sure the roots are in contact with soil. Add about a gallon of water and allow the water to percolate out. When the water has drained thoroughly, top dress the elderberry with a 2-3 inch layer of bark mulch or rotting hay.
For information on caring for your elderberry bushes after they’re planted, check out this article.
Step 5: Make Elderflower Lemonade!
Seriously, this is a step. During your elderberry bushes’ first season you want to pinch off the flowers so that the elderberry can devote its energy to developing a strong root system. Use them to make syrup, tea or lemonade.
Next season you’ll be harvesting elderberries! What’s growing in your garden this year?
Sources
- Jones, E and Hughes, R.E. (1984) The influence of bioflavonoids on the absorption of vitamin C
Bev
Thanks for the info, but your Pinterest link doesn’t work
Deb
The link worked for me…
Laura
Wonderful article! Was just thinking about planting these beauties on my property. After the cold germs this winter, I certainly want to be better prepared. Any idea if the critters go after these?
birgit
birds and all wildlife know the health benefits as well. netting to protect the fruit is advisable, or it gets picked clean inside a few days
Tori
My cows LOVE my elderberry bushes! Apparently they know about the health benefits as well! I believe my goats ate these bushes as well (when we had the goats). I understand that chickens will eat the berries too =)
Natt
I want to put down to be cautious when collecting wild cutting. Make sure it is Common Elderberry, Sambucus canadensis and not any of the toxic Elderberrys.. We have different varieties so make sure you go out the season before to Identify the shrub while there are leaves, flower or berries. There is a good description on this link
https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/common-elderberry
Be safe while foraging! Have fun!
Julie
Japanese beetles do!
Liz
Not knowing anything I cut some from a bush last summer about the time the we’re finished fruiting, put them in water and have three in pots to plant out once the weather warms up. They are very easy to start.
Shalonne
Great post! Just ordered some cuttings from Norm’s 🙂 Looking forward to planting them!
Lori
What other medicinal herbs are you planting in your garden? (My 12-year old wants to know. She wants to start a medicinal garden this spring, too :).
Karin
Comfrey is an herb I have planted everywhere I have lived. Now that I live in a new place, it’s time to plant it again. It was the first herb my daughter got to know and love by using its whole fresh leaves as a poultice-type “bandage” on a sprained ankle, and on bruises. Now that she is grown she still uses it on herself and her own kids. She swears she can feel it working on whatever it is healing!
Merry
Comfrey is highly invasive in gardens, and if you dig it out, every small broken -off rootlet will make a new plant. So put your comfrey in a totally separate place by itself.
There are many other fun herbs your daughter can enjoy – a rosemary “tree”, oregano with its freah smell and pink flowers, the different thymes which smell wonderful and draw in the pollinators, and lemon bee balm for a wonderful summer and winter tea.
Bart Nelson
Elderberrys in a juice form will boost your immune system. Feel a cold coming on: Drink the juice to lessen the effects of the cold.
Carole
I have deer in my yard often. They leave my elderberry bushes alone. Don’t forget to save some elderberry blossoms to dry. They make a lovely tea plus other home remedies. I also can my E. Juice. It does boost immune system but be aware it could also exacerbate an autoimmune illness. E.g.. arthritis, psoriasis. Do your research.
Cindy
I have sandy/gravel soil. I have never seen elderberries away from a ditch or creek. Can I still grow them?
birgit
my bushes grow near backyard fence, never get watered. they are tough !
Michael DeMarco
Here on the Olympic Peninsula in what is called the Olympic Rain Shadow with 18″ of rain annually and the soil is glacier sand and gravel. The Blue Elderberries grow very large and the best ones are the ones without additional water. The Red Elderberries like the moister soils.
Khrista
MICHAEL DEMARCO, where are you located? I am in Shelton wa!! I am looking for some elderberries too. small world indeed!
JOHN P SCHUSTER
Michael,John Schuster here…you can find elderberries in lower mountain areas.We are at 1300 elevation,Southern Ore.
and they grow along the hiway.You find either state or government land and go hunt the trees.You could talk with a ranger station.They could give good advice.The trees usually grow to 15 ft high.I also used to live in Wa. You live where fish run across the roads in the winter.Happy hunting..
Tori
I live in Tn. Our soil can be very gravelly. Mine are mostly on hillside areas. It’s pretty humid here in the summer so my bushes only get watered by the rain. I actually bought a Black elderberry plant this past fall and hope to plant it near my native elders, to maybe cross-pollinate for bigger berries!
Lana
I have 3 large black (leaf) elderberry bushes I got from Lowe’s a few years ago. The are very large now. I planted them too close together. Beautiful pink flowers! I need to get a different type so my berries are larger.
Janet Wycoskie
They grow inside our Forrest.
Deb
Which variety did you pick from Norm’s? I live in Northeast Ohio and would like to grown elderberries for medicinal needs. Thanks!
Vanessa
The evidence shown is based on one study of 60 patients. Not very convincing evidence.
Carolyn Slider
I also live in NE Ohio near Lake Erie. Grew up here and all of the wild elderberry bushes near us were in wet areas, near a stream or bordering swamp. Not sure how to identify them if they are not bearing the fruit.
bek
My E-berry bush already has some green on it. Does that mean it is too late to cut to share with friends?
Michael DeMarco
It’s worth a try. The cuttings will dry quicker with the leaves drawing moisture so keep them in the water and if you are inclined pull the green (gently – gently) off of half of them and see the difference it makes, if any. Good rooting!
Julie T
Thanks for the info. I have my cuttings in a jar in water to root it, but was wondering lately if they should be in sunlight or not.
Sandra White
I have had elderberries several years….never thot about cuttings because they send up so many shoots (suckers) at the base. I just hack them off where they are connected to the “mother” and dig them out….not hard to do if you want to plant more in a row or area. If you leave the suckers alone they will grow and keep on making the original mother plant more bushy….I use them like any other fruit in pies, on ice cream, syrups, mix with other berries for jams or whatever you want to make with them. You do have to pick them before the birds get them….but we should share, right?! Do not expect to pick the whole cluster at once as some ripen faster than others on that cluster…so have to pick each by hand….takes time but worth it….
Betsy
Woohoo!!!! Now I don’t have to spend any money this spring for more elderberry starts!!!! I can make more cuttings from the elderberry I already have! Thank you for this information 🙂
Petra
Hello.
I picked my elderberries late this year and they are shriveled a bit and they smell a bit like they are fermenting. Are they still safe to make syrup from?
Thanks!
annie
excellent article. thank you!! Now I’m also very interested in growing Seabuckthorn berries…. I hear they are super healthy too… 🙂
Bart Nelson
I propagate about 1000 elderberry plants each year and donate them to fish & game departments. I use several methods 1) hardwood cuttings 2)softwood cuttings early in the fall and 3) Dig suckers in the fall. #3 is the most successful, with about a 95% success level. These I put into 5 Gallon pots and the cuttings go into 1 gallon pots.
I started doing this after reading about the benefits to wildlife, in Bowhunter magazine.
Bart Nelson
REMEMBER: The first year they sleep, second year they creep and third year they leap.
Mia
Hey Bart, will you post instructions on the third method? Or a link to the article? I’d love to go get some this fall and have it in the ground but don’t know how it should be done….thank you so much for sharing your knowledge on here for those of us just learning ?
Keith
Hi,
Great article! One question; If this is done in winter, there is very little sun where I live in the winter. Your directions say to place the cuttings in sun. Will artificial light work or just near the window? Thanks for taking the time to educate and inspire people to produce their own food and medicines!!!
Heather Stout
Hi,
I can’t wait to get some cuttings going! I live in the Oregon and don’t have access to a lot of willow to use for a rooting hormone, but recently discovered another tree that works as well. The link you gave for making willow water mentioned other trees in the same family. Cottonwoods are abundant in my neck of the woods and are apparently related to willow. I have been harvesting leaf buds for Balm of Gilead. According to my research, a small cottonwood branch in the water with your starts will do the trick nicely.
Thank you for this wonderful site, I have learned so much!
Faye Kroese
I am giving this a try. Thank you so much for the detailed instructions! I am going to share a link on my blog for this post. I think I have readers who would love to give this a try also.
Lori
Does it grow in Florida or is it too hot.
Noemi
Yes they grow here I live in lake city they everywhere on the roads
Lisa Bates
I live in Lakeland, FL and they are EVERYWHERE, mostly near water. You can see them along the roadsides and they flower about 3 times a year if my observations are correct. You should have no trouble growing them in Florida!
katie shenefelt
Can I cut branches in early fall then put in water for winter. I’m moving, need to take with me. Katie.
Nikolai Adams
Amazing post thank you so much!
Can’t wait to get some cuttings in a few months =D
Jane Myer
I’m sorry, I live in the west side of Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline. I’m not sure what to look for right now to go out and get clippings from a plant that is growing out in the wild. They are just about everywhere, but still I don’t want to get the wrong plants. Any suggestions?
Corrine
do I want to take a cutting that has some new leafing out? It is early March but in my area we have had an early spring and my elderberry bush is just starting to leaf out.
Dawn Hopkins
Mix with ginger and wow what flavor!
Danielle Ross
Do you think these would do okay in pots for a few years? I know it’s a ridiculous question, but we move often for my husband’s job.
Shannon
As a 9 year grower of over an acre, an elderberry in a pot would do okay, but not great. The pot would need to be 3-5 gallons. An alternative would be to plant them where you are and plan on digging them when dormant and taking them with you. Again a 3-5 gallon pot would be needed. You would be cutting some roots to stuff it into pot but during dormant stage an elderberry plant can bounce back from that. A healthy elderberry plant average harvest is 10-15 pounds, in a pot your average would drop to maybe 8-10.
Tim
We picked up some from local agg sale. Put the 10 inch starts into small pots with potting soil and watered thru summer. Planted all in fall. Had very large root systems established too. Waiting to see how they do this year. It’s part of our wind break fence
Mona
Thanks for this info! I’ll be looking to get more bushes going. We had one that was in the middle of a patch of other plants that have the cuckleburrs on them so we cut them all down to keep our horses out of them. I’ve just started learning about healing herbs and this one worked for me this year! I ordered a kit from Learning Herbs that had dried Elderberries in it. Made the Elderberry syrup and took it all during flu season, gave my daughter and family some and kept us flu-free for the most part. I fully intend on continuing this now that I know how to get more bushes!
Karen
Can this be grown in a large pot my community uses pesticides and I don’t want to plant I ground
Heather
Hi Karen, you may find this article helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/elderberry/elderberries-in-containers.htm
Zoe
Great article thanks. My only question is you say this summer you’ll have flowers and next summer you’ll have berries….I’m pretty sure the flowers that come in spring turn into berries by autumn (if they aren’t picked as flowers) , could you just clarify what you meant please?
Heather
Hi Zoe, I believe when I talked to an expert elderberry grower they mentioned that the bushes would flower in the first year but wouldn’t actually be mature enough to produce berries.
Bruno M.
The first year they may ( try to) grow berries out of their flowers, but you should not allow them
to grow to berries. just cut the flower heads after blooming.
So the plant does not need to put in energy to grow berries, but can put its energy in ( root) growth.
Devon Nestor
I don’t know of any elderberry bushes around so I am thinking of purchasing one – can anyone recommend a good variety for medicinal purposes? Are any of the black elderberry family safe to use to make tea and syrup? The woman at the nursery I visited wanted me to get black lace or nova, I would like to know for sure before I buy one 🙂
Terry
We just discovered recently that this is growing in our backyard…we bought the property a year and a half ago, and only after fixing the place up and getting settled did we turn our attention to the yard. I found several shrubs that I took to be Sumac growing in different places…then I wondered if it was Devil’s Walking Stick, looking at the bark and the fruit…finally when my husband asked if he could cut a few to make mowing easier I took a photo with a plant ID app and found that it was Elderberry! The last owners of the property were apparently avid gardeners as we already had two fig trees in the back and several flowering shrubs close to the road, and they must have planted Elderberry as well. Most of it was in fruit last summer but I’m ashamed to admit now that it all went to waste (except for what the birds ate) as I didn’t realize what it was. But this year in addition to picking figs I’ll be collecting Elderberry fruit!
Clair
What if my elderberry plant is still newish. I purchased two plants two years ago and one died. I would like to cut more from this one to make more plans but it still hasn’t grown any berries yet! I see some blooms on it now. Definitely the parts that are blooming are skinnier than my pinky finger.
Jennifer
I planted an elderbery about 5 years ago and it is quite tall now and very productive. The biggest problem I have is competing with the birds for the fruit. Also much of it seems to just drop on the ground. So if you want to come up with a post on how to get more of the fruit for yourself and less for the birds and the environment, that is helpful too.
Jennifer Henderson
Thank you so much for posting this helpful information! I recently bought and received some elderberry cuttings that came with no instructions. Now that I have read your post I am confident that I will be processing my cuttings properly so I will have strong vigorous plants.