Pacific Northwest Garden Forum: Sambucus

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Chrissa
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Joined: May-07-2010
Location: Washington, Long Beach Peninsula
Posts: 72

Topic: Sambucus
Posted: May-03-2012 at 3:56pm

I got, at a local plant sale, a small "sambucus" - no other info on the four-inch pot (except "with poppy", because there's one of those in there as a volunteer as well).

At the moment, the poppy is predominant, but I am sure this will not always be the case. In any event - where shall I plant this? Does it need lots of sun, and will it grow in sandy soil, or should I containerize it?

How can I tell what sort of sambucus it is?

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Phlox
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Joined: Feb-25-2004
Location: Washington, Southwestern
Posts: 409

Posted: May-04-2012 at 1:02pm

Hi Chrissa,

I'm not an expert but I do have three different kinds of Sambucus, S.nigra 'Thundercloud', 'Eva' the Black Lace Elderberry, and 'Pulverulenta' a varigated type.

They all get plenty of sun but some shade also, mostly in the afternoon, and they are all doing quite well since I planted them in 2008 & 09.

My soil is also mostly sand, some of it being the hard-packed kind, but with some composting when they were first planted, they are doing great. The Thundercloud is about 10ft. tall now and the Black Lace about 7ft.

I've also taken starts off the Thunder and they have done well also, even after one of them got broken off, it came back just fine.

The one you have may be our native Sambucus and you can research it at WSU native plant website. Good luck with whichever you have. The birds love the berries.

Also should say that all the ones I have have survived on very little water after they were established. I'm not sure if the natives would react the same to dry ground.

"The only limit to your garden is at the boundaries of your imagination." -Thomas D.Church

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Fern
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Joined: Mar-11-2005
Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills
Posts: 1346

Posted: May-05-2012 at 9:43am

I too would guess it is our native Red Elderberry, because I get volunteers sometimes. It can take sun or shade (but not the deepest, dry shade), it's very easy to grow, and it can grow big fast, to 8-12 ft.

Fern

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CJoy
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Joined: Apr-09-2011
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posts: 100

Posted: May-05-2012 at 9:57am

Sambucus--especially the native elderberry can grow into a pretty big bush in a couple of years. The burgundy leafed varieties I kept narrow and tall by pruning a few of the stalks to the ground. If you prune them off mid way up, the new branches will grow out and up another 10 feet, which gets clumbsy. It is just a pleasure to watch them grow so quickly and they are easy to maintain--I have had one of mine at least 12 years, and moved it successfully in May of 2008 to our new home. All three of mine are located in partial shade by a wooden fence or near tall evergreens.

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Author	Message
Chrissa none Joined: May-07-2010 Location: Washington, Long Beach Peninsula Posts: 72	Topic: Sambucus Posted: May-03-2012 at 3:56pm
	I got, at a local plant sale, a small "sambucus" - no other info on the four-inch pot (except "with poppy", because there's one of those in there as a volunteer as well). At the moment, the poppy is predominant, but I am sure this will not always be the case. In any event - where shall I plant this? Does it need lots of sun, and will it grow in sandy soil, or should I containerize it? How can I tell what sort of sambucus it is?

	IP Logged

Phlox none Joined: Feb-25-2004 Location: Washington, Southwestern Posts: 409	Posted: May-04-2012 at 1:02pm
	Hi Chrissa, I'm not an expert but I do have three different kinds of Sambucus, S.nigra 'Thundercloud', 'Eva' the Black Lace Elderberry, and 'Pulverulenta' a varigated type. They all get plenty of sun but some shade also, mostly in the afternoon, and they are all doing quite well since I planted them in 2008 & 09. My soil is also mostly sand, some of it being the hard-packed kind, but with some composting when they were first planted, they are doing great. The Thundercloud is about 10ft. tall now and the Black Lace about 7ft. I've also taken starts off the Thunder and they have done well also, even after one of them got broken off, it came back just fine. The one you have may be our native Sambucus and you can research it at WSU native plant website. Good luck with whichever you have. The birds love the berries. Also should say that all the ones I have have survived on very little water after they were established. I'm not sure if the natives would react the same to dry ground.
	"The only limit to your garden is at the boundaries of your imagination." -Thomas D.Church
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Fern none Joined: Mar-11-2005 Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills Posts: 1346	Posted: May-05-2012 at 9:43am
	I too would guess it is our native Red Elderberry, because I get volunteers sometimes. It can take sun or shade (but not the deepest, dry shade), it's very easy to grow, and it can grow big fast, to 8-12 ft.
	Fern
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CJoy none Joined: Apr-09-2011 Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro Posts: 100	Posted: May-05-2012 at 9:57am
	Sambucus--especially the native elderberry can grow into a pretty big bush in a couple of years. The burgundy leafed varieties I kept narrow and tall by pruning a few of the stalks to the ground. If you prune them off mid way up, the new branches will grow out and up another 10 feet, which gets clumbsy. It is just a pleasure to watch them grow so quickly and they are easy to maintain--I have had one of mine at least 12 years, and moved it successfully in May of 2008 to our new home. All three of mine are located in partial shade by a wooden fence or near tall evergreens.
	CJ
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Topic: Sambucus