Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In 2018, I build elderberry raised beds as a natural fence to my orchard. I originally planted 4 varieties that were nothing more than a single 12" stick for each one. In 2020 I got cancer. These elderberries basically went several years without me even harvesting the berries. But now I am getting back on track and propagating them again since 2013.
elderberrries are probably one of the easiest berries to grow. They are pretty much a plant it and forget it type of plant. Mine are in partial shade and still produce well every year. I can always count on having an abundance of elderberry even if everything else fails to produce anything (and a lot in the garden vegetables, berries, and fruits has failed this year 2025 due to all the rain - this is probably the first year I can think of since I bought this property in 2015 that the number of precipitation days probably exceeds the number of dry days and the volume of rain is just stupid amounts).
Anywho I am telling you how easy elderberries are to grow because some people can't seem to grow anything without killing it. They have tried perennial flowers, annual flowers, vegetables, container fruits and berries but always fail. They all die. I bet you though, you can grow elderberries because they literally are a plant it and forget about it type of plant (as long as they have water, but they are ok with drought too) and some sun (but they will produce even if partial shade) and thats pretty much all they need. Not only that, you don't even have to root them to make more elderberry plants from cuttings, just cut them leaving 2 nodes at the top, 2 nodes at the bottom and stick the bottom two nodes into new soil somewhere .... next year they will grow and be productive too. The only maintenance elderberries require is to cut all 3+ year old growth back to the ground (and thats where you get your nodes to make more elderberry plants)
I have a video on cutting back elderberry and sticking nodes in the ground here: youtube.com/watch?v=m4N9nPiS164
home made chocolate ice cream topped with elderberry jam or syrup youtube.com/watch?v=g1YnEPi1kEY
elderberry jelly or syrup from steam juicer juice (you can also make this in a stock pot and strain out the berry bits or just make jam instead - same recipe): youtube.com/watch?v=8DRJo9WaDsk
steam juicing elderberry berries to extract juice youtube.com/watch?v=9EUzDzEhJUg
elderberry growth stages from sprouting to blooms forming to blooming to berry production youtube.com/watch?v=1wc8dk8bULQ
harvest elderberry and traditional stove top elderberry jam making plus canning youtube.com/watch?v=eMtHvMftWQk
elderberry is cold tolerant - showing growth in 2.5F temperature during winter: youtube.com/watch?v=A1ghvFMlEXA
old fashioned elderberry jam youtube.com/shorts/nnSmMjnLd-o
removing elderberry berries from stems youtube.com/shorts/IoN3gLGzd_Q
There are other elderberry videos and recipes on my channel too.
In 2018, I build elderberry raised beds as a natural fence to my orchard. I originally planted 4 varieties that were nothing more than a single 12" stick for each one. In 2020 I got cancer. These elderberries basically went several years without me even harvesting the berries. But now I am getting back on track and propagating them again since 2013.
elderberrries are probably one of the easiest berries to grow. They are pretty much a plant it and forget it type of plant. Mine are in partial shade and still produce well every year. I can always count on having an abundance of elderberry even if everything else fails to produce anything (and a lot in the garden vegetables, berries, and fruits has failed this year 2025 due to all the rain - this is probably the first year I can think of since I bought this property in 2015 that the number of precipitation days probably exceeds the number of dry days and the volume of rain is just stupid amounts).
Anywho I am telling you how easy elderberries are to grow because some people can't seem to grow anything without killing it. They have tried perennial flowers, annual flowers, vegetables, container fruits and berries but always fail. They all die. I bet you though, you can grow elderberries because they literally are a plant it and forget about it type of plant (as long as they have water, but they are ok with drought too) and some sun (but they will produce even if partial shade) and thats pretty much all they need. Not only that, you don't even have to root them to make more elderberry plants from cuttings, just cut them leaving 2 nodes at the top, 2 nodes at the bottom and stick the bottom two nodes into new soil somewhere .... next year they will grow and be productive too. The only maintenance elderberries require is to cut all 3+ year old growth back to the ground (and thats where you get your nodes to make more elderberry plants)
I have a video on cutting back elderberry and sticking nodes in the ground here: youtube.com/watch?v=m4N9nPiS164
home made chocolate ice cream topped with elderberry jam or syrup youtube.com/watch?v=g1YnEPi1kEY
elderberry jelly or syrup from steam juicer juice (you can also make this in a stock pot and strain out the berry bits or just make jam instead - same recipe): youtube.com/watch?v=8DRJo9WaDsk
steam juicing elderberry berries to extract juice youtube.com/watch?v=9EUzDzEhJUg
elderberry growth stages from sprouting to blooms forming to blooming to berry production youtube.com/watch?v=1wc8dk8bULQ
harvest elderberry and traditional stove top elderberry jam making plus canning youtube.com/watch?v=eMtHvMftWQk
elderberry is cold tolerant - showing growth in 2.5F temperature during winter: youtube.com/watch?v=A1ghvFMlEXA
old fashioned elderberry jam youtube.com/shorts/nnSmMjnLd-o
removing elderberry berries from stems youtube.com/shorts/IoN3gLGzd_Q
There are other elderberry videos and recipes on my channel too.
