Elderberry tree

[stella]

I am thinking of putting an Elderberry tree at the bottom of my garden, the flowers and fruit are both useful. Does anyone have one. Any comments, pros, cons or ideas of where I could get one. Thanks

[VirginVegGrower]

It's in every hedgerow. Do you really need it at the bottom of your garden as I should imagine it's fairly invasive? Try taking a cutting maybe.

[Nicos]

Is this in your UK garden???

We have a couple in our garden here. They prefer to grow where there is water nearby.
The French for this tree is Sureau...meaning 'on water'...not many peeps know that!!!

[VirginVegGrower]

Is this in your UK garden???

We have a couple in our garden here. They prefer to grow where there is water nearby.
The French for this tree is Sureau...meaning 'on water'...not many peeps know that!!!

Oops - good job you noticed the location thing!

[stella]

Yes South London, dont have any in the area, that I have found, lots of Rowan round here not sure what you can do with that. Not much water round here either, does that mean it would not produce?

[VirginVegGrower]

It's like a weed everywhere. My mother has it at the end of her garden and she has no water nearby so I would say you would not have a problem. We have it at the bottom of our lane. If you google propagation, I can send you some.

[Nicos]

I think the name just implies that it prefers to grow where there is a ready supply of moisture- not necessarily surface water
That perhaps would have been more of a problem in your Italian garden .

I suppose if your garden is a bit on the dry side ( SE England) then the size may be a bit stunted.

I believe they are shallow rooted too so a young tree would probably benefit from mulching.

Nice idea...go for it!

[stella]

Any any idea how big they grow. I am going to put in some apples and a pear as well. Do they propagate from suckers?

[Nicos]

My two trees are about 15ft and 6 feet ( young one)

According to this it's softwood taken in summer...

Propagating Deciduous and Evergreen Shrubs, Trees and Vines with Stem Cuttings

I spotted this comment on another site- but no instructions...

QUOTE "The elder tree can be propagated from seed, cuttings or by dividing the suckers that develop at the tree's base ".

[zazen999]

Any any idea how big they grow. I am going to put in some apples and a pear as well. Do they propagate from suckers?

Mine [3 years old] is about 8 ft tall - but it's about 8 ft wide. We grow the Black Lace version as it has such a beautiful flower....the berries are going to be added to our home grown grapes for wine in a week or so.

You can keep them smaller however if you prune them back too much, you don't get the flowers and hence, no berries.

My first few cuttings has one that has taken. Yay.

[stella]

So if I can find a tree anywhere do I just cut a sucker off the bottom???? Also wont that take ages to fruit, may be I would be better off buying a more mature tree?

[chris]

I grow black lace too, there's another black variety too - again with pink flowers.. erm two ticks... hmm, can't remember.

Have seen a black tower on ebay, but haven't heard of that before. I prefer the look of black lace's leaves too.

AH HA! It's called black beauty - the leaves look like normal elder leaves, just darker. Pink flowers too..

I think black lace grows larger, but can't find the page I was reading about them before!

[stella]

Just had a look on ebay cant see it, have you got a link. Thanks

[chris]

Sambucus Black Lace black elderflower, dark lacey leavs | eBay

[zazen999]

£7.99 for a plant *runs out to take more cuttings