American elder
9Will it grow where I live?
American elder is hardy to zone 3 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 3 upwards.
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Profile
- Family
- Sambucaceae
- Habit
- Shrub
- Height
- 3 m
- Spread
- 3 m
- Growth
- very fast
- Lifespan
- 30 years
- First yield
- after 3 years
- Full yield
- after 4 years
- Hardiness
- zone 3–10
- Shade tolerance
- partial shade
- Soil
- Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay
- Soil moisture
- moist – very wet
- pH
- 5.5 – 7.5
Uses
Frequently asked questions
American elder: how big does it get?
American elder (Sambucus canadensis) grows as a Shrub and reaches roughly 3 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 3 m. Growth is very fast.
American elder: what site does it need?
American elder tolerates partial shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay. Soil moisture should be in the range moist – very wet. The pH may lie between 5.5 and 7.5.
American elder: is it hardy?
American elder is listed as hardy in zone 3–10 and survives normal winters outdoors there.
American elder: will it grow in Central Europe?
American elder is hardy to zone 3 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 3 upwards.
American elder: when does it start cropping, and how much?
American elder first crops after 3 years. Full yield comes after 4 years. Figures assume a good site; variety, soil and climate shift them considerably.
American elder: is it poisonous?
No toxicity is recorded for American elder. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.
American elder: what is it used for?
Rated on a scale up to 10: Medicinal 9/10.
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