Nursery / Cutting
Malus domestica, seed grown

Elderberry Cuttings

Native elderberry, eager to root. Hardwood cuttings in late winter, softwood in early summer.

Elderberry Cuttings

Elderberry is enthusiastic about rooting and forgiving of technique. A hardwood cutting taken in March can be a planted shrub by fall.

Because elderberry thrives in wet ground, cuttings are an inexpensive way to plant up a rain garden, a swale or the damp edge of a pond.

Our cuttings are native American elderberry, Sambucus canadensis, from our own plants.

Common questions

Before you plant.

  • Hardwood or softwood?Hardwood cuttings ship dormant in late winter and are the easiest. Softwood cuttings in early summer root fast but need more care.
  • How do I plant them?Push cuttings into moist soil with at least one pair of buds below the surface and one above.
  • Do I need two plants for fruit?Two genetically different plants fruit more heavily. Ask us about pairing.
  • Can I eat the berries raw?No. Always cook elderberries before eating.

    • Planting & Growing Information

    Ships as
    Hardwood cuttings (late winter), softwood cuttings (seasonal)
    Source
    Our native elderberry stock
    Rooting
    In moist soil or a pot of damp mix
    Difficulty
    Easy
    Hardiness of plants
    3-9
    Mature height
    6-12 ft
    Care
    Keep moist while rooting
    Attributes
    Native, tolerates wet soil, fast growing
    Plants that pair well

    Good company
    for your elderberry cuttings.

    Elderberry
    Elderberry
    Prefer a head start? Buy a rooted native elderberry.
    Siberian Iris
    Siberian Iris
    Another plant for the wet ground elderberry loves.
    Currant Cuttings
    Currant Cuttings
    A second easy cutting for a mixed hedgerow.
    Propagation

    Native elderberry,
    by the bundle.

    A bundle of elderberry cuttings is the cheapest way to plant a native hedgerow that flowers, fruits and feeds wildlife.

    Elderberry roots so readily that even first-time propagators have good success.

    Plant cuttings along a wet edge, and in two or three years you will have a stand of flowering, fruiting shrubs.

    • Hardwood bundlesDormant cuttings shipped in late winter.
    • Softwood cuttingsSeasonal, early summer, by arrangement.
    • Current stockInventory varies by season and batch. Contact us to confirm what is available now, and in what size.

    What to know before you buy

    Plant hardwood cuttings in early spring, as soon as the ground can be worked.

    Keep them moist while they root. Elderberry is a water-lover.

    Give young plants 6 to 10 feet of space in their final spot.

    Protect new growth from deer in the first spring.

    Sizes and formats

    What we ship.

    Plants ship in the dormant seasons, late fall and early spring, with local pickup in Great Falls. Availability changes by batch, so ask if you need a particular size.

    Elderberry Cuttings
    Elderberry Cuttings
    Sambucus canadensis
    Native elderberry cuttings for hedgerows, rain gardens and wet edges.
    NativeFood bearingCutting
    Available as: hardwood cutting, softwood cutting (seasonal)
    Wholesale and bulk

    Planting at scale.

    We supply landscapers, nurseries, farms and larger residential projects with elderberry cuttings in quantity. Stock is seasonal and limited, so get in touch ahead of your planting window and we will plan around your order.

    Ask about wholesale →
    You might also like
    Elderberry
    Elderberry
    Siberian Iris
    Siberian Iris
    Currant Cuttings
    Currant Cuttings

    Planning an orchard, guild or garden around this plant? An on-site consult in the DC area starts at $250, a written Remote Strategy at $1,500, or start small with a free guide.