Maritime Arboretum Seed Purple Elderberry

Sambucus nigra

Purple Elderberry is a vigorous deciduous shrub valued for its attractive foliage, fragrant clusters of flowers, and dark purple to black berries. It is an excellent ornamental and wildlife plant, attracting pollinators and birds. Purple-leaved forms are particularly valued for their striking foliage and seasonal interest.

Approximate Maximum Height: 5 m
Zone(s): Zone 6 to Zone 9
About the Seeds: Clean Seed

Lighting: Full sun to partial shade. Full sun encourages the strongest growth and best foliage colour, while partial shade is tolerated.

Germination: Elderberry seeds have complex dormancy and can be slow and irregular to germinate. Clean the seeds thoroughly and provide cold, moist stratification for approximately 60-90 days. Some seeds may benefit from a warm stratification period followed by additional cold stratification. Sow approximately 3-6 mm (⅛–¼") deep in a moist, well-drained growing medium. Germination may take several months and can be spread over more than one growing season.

Watering: Keep the seed-starting medium consistently moist but not waterlogged during stratification and germination. Once seedlings emerge, maintain even moisture and do not allow young plants to dry out. Established elderberry plants prefer evenly moist soil but can tolerate a range of conditions.

Photo Courtesy of Maritime Arboretum Ltd.