I got jazzed up about our native american elderberries a couple of years ago and started a project to raise elderberries for nursery stock (and berries). I decided to grow ten different named cultivars that are grown primarily in the midwest and the northeast (and Canada). I got most of my starts either from the U. of Missouri, or the USDA germplasm repository in Corvallis. Oregon.

I contracted with a tissue culture lab in Washington to produce the plantlets. But first I had them all tested for viruses at a plant pathology lab. Tissue-culture is the way most berry plants are produced in the modern era. The procedure tends to eliminate the passing of viruses and other diseases. One small plant can produce tens of thousands of starts in a pretty short time. I have about 4000 starts produced so far and anther 16,000 in the works.

Some pics:

This variety is a seedling of the European variety of Sambucus "Haschberg". It was discovered in a planting in Oklahoma and named "Marge".

The first row of "Bob Gordon" planted last year. Rabbiteye blueberries in the foreground.

A nice Bob Gordon flowerhead (or cyme). This one is 15" accross.

Our plan is to produce cutting materials from these rows and so they will be coppiced to the ground every winter.

Anyway, thought I would share a little bit about the project. We think we are the only nursery to tissue culture native american elderberries in this country. At least the only one I'm aware of. Our nursery stock will be available by next year. It will be certified organic stock.

Carl, could they use the same technology they use to make virus free elderberry bushes to make virus free American chestnut trees?

Keith

Yes, absolutely. But chances are there are still enough spores floating around that they get infected anyway; unless you're hundreds and hundreds of miles away from infected stumps. BTW, i believe the causual organism for american chestnut blight is a fungus.

How are those eastern elderberrys different than those blue elderberrys we have here in the west?
I never have figured out what red elderberrys are good for other than bandtail pigeon forage.

This has really turned into a passion for you- great to see!

True enough that elderberries carry small amounts of cyanide glucosides. Mostly in the stems and leaves but a tiny amount in the fruit. Cooking removes it I'm told.

There hasn't been much research done on the blue elderberry we have out here in the west (Sambucus caerulea but it seems to have benefits and uses equal of that of the black elderberry native to the eastern half of the country S. nigra canadensis.

On the other hand the red elderberry that is found in Oregon and Washington has toxic fruit and should not be eaten.

they are getting past the flower stage here. a few are upside down already. wild berries. grow everywhere around here. amazes me how many people dont know what they are

I've been picking elderberries for about 2 weeks here.

Keith

If you let them take tree form they seem to ripen earlier. We are cutting ours back to the ground every year and cropping the suckers. That makes them a little later I think. The pictures I took were from earlier today. Still lots of fresh bloom but some are already green berries.

Call, put me on the list to get a plant. Bob maier

So do they fruit like a blueberry plant? Is production dependent on the species? Do you fertilize them like a blackberry or a blueberry?

Looking to grow some depending on production. Wife likes elderberry very much for medicinal purposes.

We live in zone 7a.

I will fully acknowledge that I'm in learning mode myself on this new-to-me crop. From what I understand elders like a pH from slightly acidic to a little alkaline. They like moderate fertilizer and a fair amount of water. They actually seem to do well in a lot of marginal soils. Average production at reduced spacings are around 4-6 lbs per plant. Keith C will tell you that his Ohio tree "Remembrance" produces a lot more than that. Some of that has to be the size of the tree. Most of the commercial guys prune back pretty hard therefore have smaller more densely spaced plantings.

Bowhunter, I'm also in 7a.

We have a couple of patches of wild ones. My wife picked then every year if she beats the birds to them.

Wonderful project and I wish you continued success!

I was raised on eastern elderberry jelly and pie.
The poison never got me.

We had a lot of them around our lake. Way more than 10 families could use. A guy with a commercial bakery asked to pick them for pies. He did not offer to pay anything. We said yes if you give us back 2 pies loaded with fruit. He had a crew pick them all. 20 years later we are still waiting on the pie.

Ours aren't quite ripe yet.Another week or two.Cant wait for my wifes elderberry cream cheese pie.

Very Awesome

I've eaten elderberrys raw right off the plant for years, if there is any toxin in there it must be very very small as to be insignificant.

Wild ones abound here and this red soil is about as poor as you can find. Heads are around 6 to 10 inches and they seem to grow in among the black berries.