Southern Elder
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6
4Will it grow where I live?
Southern Elder is not winter-hardy in Central Europe (zone 9): outdoors from spring to autumn only, otherwise a container plant overwintered frost-free. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.
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Profile
- Family
- Adoxaceae
- Habit
- Shrub
- Height
- 3 m
- Spread
- 2 m
- Growth
- fast
- Lifespan
- 20 years
- First yield
- after 2 years
- Hardiness
- zone 9–13
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Soil
- Sand, Silt
- Soil moisture
- moist – very wet
- pH
- 6 – 7
Flowering & harvest
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowering | ||||||||||||
| Fruit harvest |
Uses
Growing
Sambucus australis prefers sunny to partly shaded sites with well-drained, humus-rich soil. Regular watering promotes growth, especially in dry periods. Propagation is by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings in spring. The plant can be grown in temperate to subtropical zones but needs winter protection in colder regions.
Frequently asked questions
Southern Elder: how big does it get?
Southern Elder (Sambucus australis) grows as a Shrub and reaches roughly 3 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 2 m. Growth is fast.
Southern Elder: what site does it need?
Southern Elder tolerates light shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt. Soil moisture should be in the range moist – very wet. The pH may lie between 6 and 7.
Southern Elder: is it hardy?
Southern Elder is listed as hardy in zone 9–13 and survives normal winters outdoors there.
Southern Elder: will it grow in Central Europe?
Southern Elder is not winter-hardy in Central Europe (zone 9): outdoors from spring to autumn only, otherwise a container plant overwintered frost-free. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.
Southern Elder: when does it flower?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate it flowers from May to June.
Southern Elder: when is it harvested?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate the fruit ripens from August to September.
Southern Elder: is it poisonous?
Individual parts of Southern Elder are noted as mildly problematic — the plant does not count as poisonous. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone, only on a confident identification.
Southern Elder: what is it used for?
Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 5/10, Medicinal 6/10, Other uses 4/10.
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Community experience
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