Propagation of Sambucus Canadensis

Varieties

• If elderberries are native to your area, you may be able to obtain permission to propagate plants from wild stock. This is an inexpensive way to get plants, and it might provide you with elderberries that are particularly well-adapted to your climate and soil conditions. In general, cultivated varieties offer improved productivity and vigor. Elderberries benefit from cross-pollination, so choose two or more varieties and plant them within 60 feet of each other. "Nova" produces sweeter berries, while "York" matures later in the season.

Transplanting

• Elderberries are sturdy plants that will often survive the stress of being transplanted. If you have access to wild shrubs, you can dig them up in early spring and replant them on your property into well-prepared soil. Keep the root area moist until the plants are established.

Hardwood Cuttings

• The standard method of propagating elderberries is from hardwood cuttings. In early spring, cut 12-inch sections of hard stem from an existing elderberry shrub. Make sure you are not cutting wood that was injured or killed during the winter. Plant these cuttings 12 inches apart in moist, fertile soil. You can cover up most of the wood, but leave the top bud above the soil line. Throughout the rest of the season, these cuttings will grow into small plants. Early the following spring, you can transplant them into their permanent spot.

Root Propagation

• Elderberries naturally spread by sending up new shoots directly from the roots, known as suckers. Rather than transplanting an entire shrub, you can carefully dig up suckers and replant them in a nursery bed. A variation of this approach is to cut out small root sections from an existing shrub. Fill a pot with seed-starting soil and plant the root cutting horizontally, about 1 inch deep. Keep the soil moist and warm, and new growth will emerge from the root cutting. You can move this new plant to its final spot when it is well established in the pot.