Elderberry Cultivars?

Hello everyone!

I'm looking to get a hold of some elderberry hedging to put into garden, primarily for the edible aspect - but the best cultivar is apparently 'Bob Gordon' - when googling I can't seem to find anywhere on the UK doing specific cultivars of elder? Does anyone here have any elderberry bushes/trees in their garden, or any specific cultivars?

Cheers!

 

There are several cultivars such as these:
Elderberry plants - from RV Roger Ltd.
but they are out of season at the moment, so unlikely to find anyone with them in stock.

 

@RoisinMcGuire

You could try the Agroforestry Research Trust Search Results for “elderberry” – The Agroforestry Research Trust out of stock at the moment, elderberries are early into growth though. If they haven't got it they may know who does.
It is possible that as "Bob Gordon" is an American elderberry, Sambucus canadensis, it doesn't do well in the UK, maybe summers not warm enough or sunny enough.

 

I think Bob Gordon is an American cultivar. We can get Nova over here and I grow Haschberg which is German very cold resistant and supposed to have larger berries (I've only had it a year so don't know if that's true yet). Mine came from the local nursery as a 7-8ft bare root. It is produced by Frank P Matthews and I think they grow other cultivars as well but the postage is extortionate (although they are nice trees, we have a couple of others from them as well). I have seen Nova on Victoriana nursery.

 

I have a Danish variety, name not known, bred for juice. Needs regular hard pruning to keep under control.

 

Thanks everyone, so much! That's helpful to know - if the cultivar isn't popular here there's probably a reason.

Are they out of season as they're usually only sold bare root, and that window has passed?

I've checked out Victoriana - they have Haschberg too! I think I'll be going for them.

What a good help you all are - despite all my googling I hadn't come across those websites at all thank you all again!

 

I think that the varieties grown for fruit are only available bare root; so when they are dormant between late autumn and early spring. Decorative forms such as "Black Lace" may be available in pots both online and in garden centres

 

Agroforestry had them for sale until winter, I was watching carefully then bam! all gone.
Bob Gordon appears to be Sambucus Canadensis, most grown in europe are the native Sambucus Nigra. If you just want flowers any will do!
My aunt in New Zealand collected in just a day from feral pop-ups enough for 15 bottles of cordial so if you are on the penny pinching side, go wander along a country road and take some cuttings! they root very easily in water.
Haschberg and Haidegg 13/17 are commercial cultivars, best if you want lots of fruit. But remember not to eat them raw!

There are also ornamental ones that are better for neat hedging like "Golden Towers".

You may want to take a wildling to plant nearby just as a pollinator, seems nobody can decide if theyre self fertile or not.

 

Hi Adam,

Thanks for the reply. My 4 Haschbergs have arrived from Victoriana - bit pricey but they're in lovely condition.

In my area there seems to be very little elderberry trees around, there were lots where I previously lived and I foraged them then! Your aunt sounds very industrious

I've missed that info until you said there - to get another type for best fruiting. I'll need to get onto that!

When planting, as these are going on the perimeter of my grass - should I cut a circle of turf out for their hole - or create a shallow bed? ( As they will be in hedge formation) Can't seem to find out if they do well with grass growing around them or not. Thank you!

 

Hi @RoisinMcGuire
Any bush or tree will benefit from a grass-free base, at least while they are young, as grass will take away a lot of nutrients.
If creating a bed makes more sense then do that, otherwise a clear circle about 1m diameter beneath each one would be ideal.

 

Agree cut the grass or put mulch around it

It will eventually outcompete the grass though

 

I found an elder on a walk that was absolutely covered in fruit, I harvested maybe 3kg in 10 minutes! In spring I made some cordial from flowers along the canal, yum but didnt make enough. Now ive made some from the fruit. Needed a lot of sugar and lemon but tasty and so pretty. Its a curious flavour, almost savoury with a subtle metallic taste... almost like blood! But fruity.



How amazing from one plant, gives you drinks from spring to winter!

I hope your cultivars from the nursery are doing well. Maybe next year you get fruit?
Bonus frog:

 

I walk my dog around a clay pit where there are a lot of elderberry trees. They seem to like damp soil conditions, no grass around the base, low fertile soil, they are mostly surrounded by brambles. I have a solitary tree at the end of my garden but it is difficult to reach the flowers or fruit. So frustrating! I collected flowers earlier in the year and made some elderflower champagne, yet to break the first bottle.

 

Wow 3kg of berries is a lot! I always like a bonus frog

My spindly young ones seem to have survived - not sure if I could describe them as thriving though!

We've been removing the turf around them to put a lavender hedge to hem them in nicely.

Soon be bramble picking season here tho - looking forward to a good crop then

 

That's so cool - how do you make elderflower champagne?