Proper planting of elderberry in open ground. Nuances of plant care

Sambucus means elderberry in Latin. Initially, the plant belonged to the Honeysuckle family, and later Elderberry. Currently, this shrub is classified as a member of the Adoksov family. There are about 40 species of plants in the genus, among which there are both ornamental and medicinal species, for example, red elderberry and black elderberry.

Description of the bush

The plant can be found in the Northern Hemisphere, where temperate and subtropical climates predominate, as well as on the Australian continent. Its qualities have been known since ancient times. For the ancient Greeks, the plant was a material for making musical instruments. It is believed that the Latin name came precisely from the eastern instrument sambuca. For many peoples, elderberry is sacred and helps protect the house from evil spirits.
Elderberry, which is popular among people, also has popular names: sambuca, elderberry blossom, buzovnik, pishchalnik and wasteland.
Black elderberry is the most beneficial species for humans. To grow, plant and care for it, no special skills are required, and the garden will acquire an unusual, chic look.
The black elderberry plant comes in two types:

• bush;
• a low tree whose height ranges from 2 to 6 meters.

Black elderberry needs a description. Remember that at certain times it can easily be confused with the red variety of elderberry. Therefore, wait until the berries are completely ripe.
The branched stems have a white porous core, covered with a thin woody shell, which is green on young branches; later the shade changes to brownish-gray. The leaves, located opposite on the roots, have an elongated, pointed shape. Their length ranges from 10 to 30 cm. Multi-flowered flat inflorescences reach a diameter of 25 cm. The flowers of the plant have a cream or dirty yellow hue and emit a pleasant aroma. The period of the beginning of flowering is May - early June. The berries, reaching a diameter of 7 mm, have dark red flesh and several seeds. The fruits ripen in late August - early September, at which time they become almost black.

People appreciated the tree. Elderberry fruits contain many substances beneficial to human health, such as:

• glucose;
• carotene;
• vitamin C;
• fructose;
• potassium;
• amino acids;
• tannins.

Types of black elderberry

Among all the varieties of black elderberry, there are a huge number of garden forms. Based on crown type, there are two types of bushes:

• pyramidal or columnar;
• weeping (with drooping crown).

According to the type of form, plants are divided into:

• fern-leaved (narrow leaves, white flowers exude a musky aroma);
• porforolifolia (pink flowers, leaves have a purple or almost inky tint);
• powdery (green leaves have pronounced white or yellow spots).

The nuances of planting a plant

The plant is quite hardy and prefers well-lit areas. This is especially true for decorative species. Fruit-bearing shrubs take root well in shaded areas. It should be noted that decorative forms that have variegated or bright colors are best planted in places open to sunlight. Otherwise, they lose their appearance and the color becomes more faded.
Among the positive features of elderberry, it should be noted that it repels flies and various harmful insects, so it is advisable to plant it near drainage pits and toilets. Fruit trees and bushes located nearby are ideal as cross pollinators.

For planting, black elderberry prefers fertile loams that are slightly alkaline. If a large amount of acid predominates in the soil, then it must be diluted with lime in advance.
Young seedlings must be planted in warm weather in spring or autumn. Before planting, it is necessary to dig a hole, the depth of which should not be less than 40–50 cm. The bottom of the hole is covered with organic and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. After planting, the shoot is sprinkled with soil and lightly compacted. Do not deepen the root collar of the plant.
Care at first consists solely of watering, and this must be done until the seedling takes root and begins to produce new leaves and branches. You should wait three years for the first flowering.

Shrub care

Planting and caring for the plant is quite simple. The soil around the tree must be cleared of weeds and loosened. Branches should be trimmed from time to time. The soil should be moist, but without stagnant water. Excess moisture can destroy the tree. In such conditions, elderberry grows and bears fruit well.
To maintain soil moisture, it is recommended to mulch the trunk with fallen leaves, sawdust or peat.
Any tree needs timely pruning and black elderberry is no exception. The event is carried out to give the deciduous crown a beautiful shape, as well as to rejuvenate the bush. After winter, the tree is inspected for frozen and damaged branches. If there are any, then they should be cut off without regret. Over the summer, the branches will recover and acquire a beautiful and healthy appearance.
When a tree reaches the six-year mark, it stops bearing fruit. A high yield can be obtained from branches that are 2-3 years old. Therefore, pruning for fruit-bearing varieties is very important. The older the tree gets, the fewer fruits it bears.

Elderberry is practically not susceptible to disease. The only thing that can threaten it is spider mites and aphids. If a tree with signs of disease is detected, it must be treated with fungicides.
When harvesting ripe fruits, the bunches are cut off completely using pruning shears or grape scissors. Due to its small size, no special devices are required during cleaning. The axes of the inflorescences contain sambunigrin, a toxic substance, so after collecting all the pilaf they must be carefully separated from the berries and removed.
It should be remembered that ripe berries are not stored for a long time. They will last about 10 days in the refrigerator, after which they will begin to spoil. Therefore, it is better to immediately send them for processing to prevent the fermentation process. Brushes left on trees last all winter.
Elderberry flowers are also harvested for medicinal purposes. The cut inflorescences are cut and dried in a dry, well-ventilated place, avoiding exposure to sunlight.
In order for the tree to grow and develop well, care must include the application of fertilizing and various types of fertilizers. The best time for this is early spring. Soluble fertilizers are applied to the soil simultaneously with watering. Solid species are first scattered around the trunk, and then lightly compacted into the soil to a depth of 10–15 cm.
Organic fertilizers are best applied in the fall. Infusions of litter, compost and solid manure are perfect for this.

How to protect a tree from pests

The shrub is particularly dangerous from ticks and aphids. In Europe, where elderberry is grown on plantations, diseases of unknown etiology can be observed, caused by physiological disorders or the work of pathogenic fungal species. The root system is susceptible to attacks from rodents who like to make cozy burrows there. Crops can be affected by birds, which also enjoy elderberries.
Young seedlings can also be susceptible to various viruses, so before planting they must be carefully examined and checked for diseases and diseased cuttings removed.
In early spring, before buds begin to bloom, spraying is carried out in the garden. In this case, the air temperature should not be lower than 4 degrees. If the number of harmful insects is small, there is no point in using pesticides.
But if there are a lot of them, then to get rid of them they use drugs such as:

• fozalon;
• fenitration;
• dimethoate;
• deltamethrin;
• lambda-cyhalothrin, etc.

How to prune a plant

Black elderberry needs a type of care such as timely pruning, which is carried out for sanitary or shaping purposes. Once every three years, the bush should undergo anti-aging pruning. All branches of the bush are cut off, leaving 10 cm from them. It is better to carry out activities in early spring, when the tree is dormant and the buds have not yet begun to appear. In the autumn after harvesting, elderberry also needs sanitary pruning.
In spring, the shoots of seedlings are shortened by about 10 cm. The crown of the plant has an oval shape, which must be maintained so that the tree is pleasing to the eye and does not grow haphazardly. Branches that grow incorrectly and protrude from the contour must be removed. In addition, it is necessary to rid the bush of dry, frostbitten and weak shoots. Approximately a quarter of the old branches are cut off almost to the very base, and the cut areas are treated with garden varnish. The resulting root growth is also removed.

Autumn pruning occurs after harvest, during which the branches could be accidentally injured. In addition, over the summer, diseased shoots or branches that began to grow at the wrong angle could appear. They should also be removed. But if there are none, then the next pruning can be done only in the spring.

How to propagate elderberry

Elderberry, like any other plant, reproduces in several species:

• seeds;
• cuttings;
• layering;
• dividing the bush.

It should be noted that the most ineffective method is propagation by seeds. In addition, the bush loses its original qualities and it is difficult to predict what will eventually grow. Seeds for planting are obtained from the fruits in the month of October. The seeds are planted to a depth of 2–3 cm in rows, the distance between which is 25 cm. After a year, you can obtain seedlings reaching a length of 50–60 cm.

Green cuttings about 12 cm long are harvested in the summer in June–July. For planting, cuttings with a pair of upper leaves and 2–3 internodes are selected. The prepared material is planted in soil consisting of sand and peat, taken in equal proportions. Before planting, the lower cuts must be treated with a root former. The process promotes faster rooting of seedlings. The cuttings are covered with polyethylene, providing them with warmth. To maintain the required level of humidity, the film is sprayed with water from the inside, avoiding drops falling on the leaves. The foliage must remain dry, otherwise it will begin to rot. By autumn, the cuttings will take root, produce young shoots, and they can be safely planted in open ground in a permanent place. In order for them to successfully survive the winter, the seedlings must be covered. This could be fallen leaves, spruce branches, etc.
To obtain layering for propagation, in the fall the branches of the bush are lightly buried with earth, leaving the top on the surface. By spring they will grow, but separating it from the main bush should be delayed a little. It is best to do this after a few years.
Black elderberry is unpretentious in care and does not require any special skills from gardeners. Distributing this useful plant will not be difficult. For careful and caring treatment, it will give you a pleasant aroma in the spring, decorative beauty of foliage in the summer and healthy fruits in the fall.

Bush elderberry (lat. Sambucus) belongs to the genus of flowering plants of the Adoxaceae family, although previously it was included in the Honeysuckle family and even allocated to the Elderberry family. There are about forty species in the genus, some of them are medicinal plants - for example, black elderberry and red elderberry, and some are ornamental. In nature, elderberry grows mainly in Australia and in temperate and subtropical climate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. Elderberry has been known to mankind since ancient times - the ancient Greeks made musical instruments from its shoots, and it was mentioned in the works of Pliny.

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Planting and caring for elderberry (in brief)

• Landing: in spring (before the buds swell) or in autumn, at the beginning of October.
• Bloom: May June.
• Lighting: bright light.
• The soil: wet loamy or soddy-podzolic with a pH of 6.0-6.5.
• Watering: in drought - once a week at a consumption of 10-15 liters of water per bush. Young bushes require more frequent watering.
• Feeding: in spring and in the first half of summer - nitrogen fertilizers (slurry, infusion of chicken manure, urea), from the second half of summer - potassium-phosphorus. In autumn, elderberries are not fed.
• Trimming: annual in spring, on dormant buds, or during leaf fall.
• Reproduction: seeds, cuttings, layering and dividing the bush.
• Pests: aphid.
• Diseases: not affected.

Read more about growing elderberries below.

Elderberry plant - description

Most of the representatives of the genus are small trees or shrubs, but there are also perennial herbs in the genus, for example, herbaceous elder. In the middle zone, 13 types of elderberry are cultivated, and the most common plant is the black elderberry, a description of which we bring to your attention.

Like most species in the genus, black elderberry is a shrub or small tree 2 to 6 m high, growing in the undergrowth of deciduous and coniferous forests, sometimes forming entire thickets. Elderberry stems are branched, with a thin woody shell and a porous, soft white core. Young elderberry branches are green, but over time they become brownish-gray with a large number of small lenticels. Elderberry leaves are large, from 10 to 30 cm long, imparipinnate, consisting of several oblong, long-pointed leaves on short petioles, located oppositely. Fragrant elderberry flowers of a cream or dirty yellow hue, 5-8 mm in diameter, are collected in large multi-flowered corymbose flat inflorescences up to 25 cm in diameter. Elderberry inflorescences appear in May or June. Elderberry fruits are almost black berry-shaped drupes up to 7 mm in diameter with dark red flesh and 2-4 seeds. Fruiting begins in August or September.

Elderberry is in demand not only in amateur gardening, but also in folk medicine, so we will tell you how to grow this shrub in your garden, and describe the medicinal properties of elderberry and contraindications that you should know about.

Planting elderberry

When to plant elderberry

Planting and caring for black elderberry is not much different from planting and caring for any other shrub. Elderberry is planted in spring or autumn. The best planting material is one- or two-year-old elderberry seedlings. Where does elderberry grow? Elderberry is an unpretentious plant, but if you plant it in deep shade or poor soil, this will negatively affect both its appearance and development. Find an open, well-sunny spot for the elderberry on the northern or eastern edge of the site, especially if you plan to grow an ornamental variety with variegated or colored leaves. Traditionally, elderberry, whose young shoots have an unpleasant odor that even repels flies, is planted near toilets, cesspools or compost pits.

As for the composition of the soil, the optimal soil for elderberry is moist loam or soddy-podzolic soil with a pH in the range of 6.0-6.5 pH. Acidic soils will have to be limed by adding dolomite flour, and this should be done two years before planting the elderberry.

Planting elderberry in spring

When planning to plant an elderberry seedling in the spring, prepare a hole 80 cm deep and 50 cm in diameter for it a month in advance. When digging, throw the soil from the top layer to one side, and from the bottom to the other. If you intend to grow elderberry as a tree, drive a stake into the center of the hole of such length that it rises about half a meter above the surface of the site. Elderberry grown as a bush will not need support. Mix fertile soil from the top layer with 7-8 kg of humus, add 50 g of phosphates and 30 g of potassium fertilizers to the soil mixture and, after mixing thoroughly, pour two-thirds of this mixture into the hole.

On the day of planting, loosen the soil cushion at the bottom of the hole, lower the seedling into it and first sprinkle its roots with soil from the bottom layer, and on top with the rest of the soil mixture with fertilizers. As a result, the root collar of the seedling should be several centimeters above the level of the site. After planting, compact the soil in the tree trunk circle and water the seedling with 10-15 liters of water, and after it is absorbed, the soil settles and the root collar is flush with the surface of the site, tie the seedling to a peg.

Planting elderberry in autumn

Autumn planting of elderberry is carried out in the same order and according to the same rules as spring: a hole is dug in advance and filled with organic matter and fertilizers, after which the elderberry seedling is planted so that the root collar, after watering and settling the soil in the hole, is flush with the surface plot.

Elderberry care

Elderberry in spring

In March, trees and shrubs may suffer from sunburn - the bark becomes very hot under the bright spring sun, and at night there is a sharp cooling. To prevent the consequences of this phenomenon, the trunks and forks of the skeletal branches of elderberry are covered with a layer of lime. If damage caused by rodents in winter is found on the bark, disinfect it with a strong solution of potassium permanganate and cover it with garden varnish.

On warm, fine days, you can start pruning the elderberry, and after that treat the bush with a solution of Nitrafen or Bordeaux mixture against diseases and pests that managed to overwinter in the bark or soil under the bushes and trees. The tree trunk circles are freed from insulating material and last year's leaves. If the winter was snowless and the spring was dry, carry out moisture-recharging watering of the elderberry.

Caring for elderberries in summer

After elderberry blooms, the bush is sprayed against pests and powdery mildew.

At the beginning of summer, plants begin to actively grow and form ovaries, so the most important task is to provide the garden with moisture and nutrition. The soil in tree trunk circles must be kept loose and moist. In bushes that are frozen in winter, root growth begins to grow, which must be immediately destroyed before it outstrips the bush itself. To prevent the elderberry from spreading throughout the garden, you can dig old slate around the bush at a distance of one and a half meters and to a depth of half a meter.

In August, elderberries are already beginning to ripen on some bushes, and you should be ready to harvest. At the end of summer, it is necessary to create conditions to prepare the bushes for wintering: a rainy summer can cause secondary growth of shoots, which can only be stopped by removing the mulch from under the bushes and pinching the tops of the growing shoots.

How to care for elderberry in the fall

Caring for elderberries in the fall is preparing them for winter. In September, the elderberry harvest continues, after which sanitary pruning of the bush is carried out. At the end of the month, they dig up the soil in the tree trunk circles, apply fertilizers, and, in dry autumn conditions, carry out pre-winter watering of elderberries. If you are just planning to plant elderberries, dig holes for the seedlings at the end of September and fill them with fertilizers.

In October, the bushes are treated from pathogenic microorganisms and pests that have settled for the winter in the bark of branches or in the soil under the bush, and trunks and large branches, in order to protect them from winter rodents and spring burns, are whitened with freshly slaked lime or chalk with the addition of copper sulfate and carpentry glue. Tree trunk circles are insulated with peat, humus or dry leaves.

As soon as the snow falls, throw it under the bush - this will be the best protection for the elderberry from frost.

Elderberry processing

Twice a year - in early spring, before buds open, and after leaf fall - elderberry bushes and the soil under them are treated for preventive purposes with a one percent solution of Bordeaux mixture or a two to three percent solution of Nitrafen. They do this in order to destroy fungal infections or harmful insects hidden for the winter in the bark or in the top layer of soil. Instead of these drugs, you can use a one percent solution of copper sulfate or another drug of similar effect. A seven percent urea solution, if treated with it in the spring, acts not only as a fungicide and insecticide, but also as a nitrogen supplement needed by the plant at this time of year.

Watering elderberry

Rainy summers and mulch around the tree trunk, which does not allow moisture to quickly evaporate, can save you from watering elderberries. It is best to mulch the soil around the elderberry bush with compost or rotted manure. In summer with normal rainfall, you will not need to water the elderberry, but in dry, hot times, pour 10-15 liters of water under the elderberry bush once a week. Young plants are watered more often. Do not let the soil under the bushes dry out. After watering or rain, it is very convenient to loosen the soil around the bushes and remove weeds.

Feeding elderberry

In fertile soil, elderberry grows well without fertilizing, but it responds very well to nitrogen fertilizers applied in spring and summer to poor soil. Of the organic fertilizers, elderberry is best accepted by slurry and chicken manure infusion. She is also favorable to urea and complex mineral fertilizers. In autumn, elderberries are not fed.

Elderberry pruning

When to prune elderberry

Like many garden plants, elderberry requires annual sanitary and formative pruning. Once every three years, to rejuvenate the bush, all branches are cut to a height of 10 cm. It is best to prune the elderberry during the dormant period - in early spring, before the buds on the branches begin to swell. True, sometimes sanitary pruning of elderberries is required in the fall, after harvesting and leaf fall.

Pruning elderberry in spring

In a newly planted seedling, the shoots are shortened by 10 cm to the strong outer bud. By its nature, the shape of the elderberry crown is neat, oval - so maintain it in this form by cutting out branches and shoots that grow inside the bush or at the wrong angle. Dry, diseased, weak and frostbitten shoots are also subject to removal. The root growth must be removed while it is in its infancy. Every year, a quarter of the old branches are cut back to the base of the bush. The cuts must be lubricated with garden varnish.

Pruning elderberry in autumn

If during harvesting some elderberry branches were injured, carry out sanitary pruning, simultaneously removing diseased and improperly growing shoots along with the damaged ones. If there is no such need, prune only in the spring.

As you can see, planting and caring for elderberries is simple and not labor-intensive, but the benefits of elderberries, which we will discuss in a separate chapter, are undeniable.

Elderberry propagation

How to propagate elderberry

Elderberry is propagated by seeds, cuttings, dividing the bush and layering. Unfortunately, seed propagation almost never preserves the varietal and even species properties of elderberry, so most often the plant is propagated vegetatively.

Seed propagation of elderberry

Elderberry seeds are collected in the fall, in mid-October, by rubbing the ripe fruits through a sieve. Sow the seeds in rows, the distance between which is about 25 cm. The sowing depth is 2-3 cm. By the end of the next season, the seedlings will grow to 50-60 cm.

Propagation of elderberry by cuttings

Harvested in June or early July, green cuttings 10-12 cm long with two or three internodes and a pair of upper leaves, on the petiole of which only two paired segments are left, are planted in a mixture of sand and peat in equal parts and covered with a high polyethylene cap so that create greenhouse conditions for the cuttings. Before planting, do not forget to treat the lower cuts with a root former - it will increase the rooting ability of the cuttings by 2-3 times. To create the required level of air humidity, during the first 4-6 days, spray the film from the inside with water from a fine spray, being careful not to let the drops fall on the leaves of the cuttings, as this can cause them to rot. In autumn, rooted cuttings are planted in the ground.

If necessary, you can also root lignified one-year-old cuttings, which are harvested at the end of the growing season, stored in the winter in snow or a basement, and in the spring planted in loose, fertilized soil in the garden and each of them is covered with a glass jar or plastic bottle with the neck cut off until until the cuttings grow roots.

Reproduction of elderberry by layering

This method of reproduction gives almost one hundred percent survival rate. For layering, either young green or two- to three-year-old woody shoots are used, which are bent to the ground, placed in pre-made grooves, a little compost is placed in each of them, the shoots are secured with a metal hook and dug in, leaving the tops above the surface.

If you place woody cuttings in grooves in May or early summer and tie them at the base with wire, they can be separated from the bush in the fall and planted. Green shoots are not tied with wire and are removed from the mother plant not in the fall, but only the next year, when they become lignified.

Dividing an elderberry bush

This method of propagation is carried out in the fall. An adult, large elderberry bush is dug up and divided into approximately equal parts. You may need to use an ax or saw to split the elderberry root. Each division must have developed roots and shoots. The cuts and cuts are treated with wood ash and the sections are immediately planted in holes prepared in advance. You can plant them in containers and postpone planting in the ground until spring. Dividing the bush makes it possible to immediately obtain a large plant.

Diseases and pests of elderberry

Elderberry is extremely rarely affected by diseases and pests. The only problem can sometimes be aphids, against which in the spring the elderberry bush is treated with Karbofos in accordance with the instructions.

Types and varieties of elderberry

In addition to black elderberry, a dozen more species are grown in our climate, and we will introduce you to the most interesting of them.

Blue elderberry

- an ornamental plant that naturally lives along the banks of streams and rivers, as well as in mountain pastures in North America. Trees of this species sometimes reach 15 m in height, and sometimes grow as shrubs with thin branches that have a red tint when young. The trunks of blue elderberry are light sandy in color, the leaves consist of 5-7 bare, bluish-green coarsely serrated leaves up to 15 cm long. Fragrant cream flowers are collected in a corymbose inflorescence up to 15 cm in diameter, which blooms for about 3 weeks. Elderberry berries are blue, spherical, bluish-black due to a bluish bloom, and look very impressive. The frost resistance of this species is below average.

Siberian elderberry

grows naturally in East Asia, the European part of Russia, in Eastern and Western Siberia and the Far East, preferring mixed and dark coniferous forests and rising up to 2200 m above sea level. This is an ornamental shrub up to 4 m high with average winter hardiness.

Elderberry herbaceous

grows wild in Ukraine, the Caucasus, Belarus and the south of the European part of Russia, choosing rocky screes and river banks. This foul-smelling, but beautiful herbaceous plant during flowering and fruiting reaches a height of 1.5 m. The berries of the herbaceous elderberry, which form scutes on the tops of the shoots, are poisonous when fresh, as they contain hydrocyanic acid. This species is sometimes planted around the currant tree, since the herbaceous elderberry drives away all harmful butterflies and bud mites, but then it can be very difficult to remove this plant with a thick creeping rhizome from the currant tree. Dried elderberry flowers have a pleasant smell; they are sprinkled on apples stored for storage.

Elderberry

grows naturally in moist, nitrogen-rich soils of eastern North America. This highly ornamental plant, reaching a height of 4 m, is often used in landscaping. The shoots of plants of this species are yellowish-gray, the leaves are large - up to 30 cm in length, small fragrant flowers of a yellow-white hue form slightly convex umbrella-shaped inflorescences up to 25 cm in diameter, and the edible spherical shiny fruits are colored dark purple. This species has been in cultivation since 1761. It is very similar to black elderberry, but is much more resistant to the conditions of the middle zone. Elderberry has several decorative forms - maxima (the most powerful of all forms), acutiloba (graceful, with strongly dissected leaves), chlorocarpa (with yellowish-green leaves and green berries) and aurea (with bright yellow leaves in spring and autumn and green in summer).

Red elderberry

or racemose, originally from the mountains of Western Europe. This is a tree up to 5 m high or a deciduous shrub with a dense ovoid crown, light green odd-pinnate leaves up to 16 cm in length, consisting of 5-7 elongated and pointed leaves with sharp teeth along the edges. Greenish-yellow flowers are collected in dense oblong inflorescences up to 6 cm in diameter. The fruits are small bright red berries. Both leaves and branches have an unpleasant odor. The plant is very beautiful during the fruiting period. In culture since 1596. This species has the following decorative forms:

• low– dwarf, compact plants;
• thin-leaved– this variety’s purple leaves when opening are cut into very narrow segments, so the plant looks very elegant;
• purple– with purple or pink flowers;
• yellowish– this variety has yellow fruits with an orange side;
• dissect-leaved– the most commonly cultivated variety of red elderberry with early-blooming large leaves consisting of 2-3 pairs of finely dissected leaves;
• pinnate- with purple serrated leaves when blooming, dissected almost to the middle. Popular varieties of this variety are Plumosa Aurea with openwork leaves that are yellow in the sun and green in the shade, and Sutherland Gold with even more dissected yellow leaves.

Elderberry Zimbold

It is found naturally in Japan, the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin and the Far East, and in Western Europe it is cultivated as an ornamental plant. This is a spreading bush or tree up to 8 m high. This species is similar to the red elderberry, but it is much more powerful: the leaves, consisting of 5-11 parts, reach a length of 20 and a width of 6 cm. The inflorescences are also larger than those of the elderberry racemose, but more loose. This species has been in cultivation since 1907.

Black elderberry, described in detail in the article, also has several popular decorative forms:

• Guincho Purple- a shrub up to 2 m high with green leaves at an early age and black-purple leaves in maturity, which acquire a red tint in autumn. The flowers in bud are deep pink, but when open they are white with a subtle pink tint. The shoots of plants of this variety are purple. All these advantages appear only in the sun - in the shade the bush remains green;
• Marginata– a fast-growing bush up to 2.5 m high with a fragmentary silver-cream border on the leaves;
• Pulverulent- a slow-growing bush with showy leaves dotted with white spots, stripes and streaks.

Decorative forms, as a rule, are less frost-resistant than the main type, but they look great in the garden both as a tapeworm and in a group with other plants.

Properties of black elderberry - harm and benefit

Medicinal properties of black elderberry

Elderberry inflorescences contain valeric, acetic, caffeic, malic and chlorogenic organic acids, tannins, semi-solid essential oil, choline, carotene (provitamin A), mucous and paraffin-like substances, sugars. The properties of elderberry flowers are truly unique.

Elderberries contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C), carotene, malic acid, resin, glucose, fructose, amino acids and coloring matter.

Fresh black elderberry leaves contain carotene and ascorbic acid, essential oil, tannins, resinous substances, and dried leaves contain provitamin A1.

The bark contains choline, essential oil and phytosterol.

An infusion of dried elderberries (1:10) stimulates bile excretion, enhances diuresis and intestinal motility. Elderberry flower tea relieves bronchitis, laryngitis, neuralgia and flu. It is also used as an anti-inflammatory mouthwash.

In folk medicine, not only the berries, but also the flower of the elderberry, as well as the leaves and bark of the plant have long been used. Elderberry flowers were used to make infusions and decoctions that had a diaphoretic and antibacterial effect. They are still used in the treatment of colds, flu, sore throat and upper respiratory tract diseases. An infusion of black elderberry flowers is prepared as follows: pour a tablespoon of flowers into a glass of hot water, bring to a boil, cook over very low heat for 15 minutes, then cool, filter, squeeze and drink half a glass before meals 2-3 times a day for rheumatism, gout or arthritis. A lotion is prepared from elderberry flowers that tones and rejuvenates the skin: 10 elderberry inflorescences are poured with two glasses of boiling water, left for a day, filtered and stored in the refrigerator.

Elderberry leaves have astringent, antipyretic, sedative, diuretic and laxative effects. When used externally in steamed form, they relieve diaper rash, hemorrhoids, boils and burns. And to treat constipation, young elderberry leaves are boiled in honey.

A decoction is prepared from elderberry bark, which is used to treat kidney and skin diseases, gout, rheumatism and arthritis.

In addition, jam, jelly and wine are made from elderberry.

Elderberry - contraindications

But no matter how useful this plant is, you can still sometimes hear about the harm of elderberry. In these cases, they mean the fruits of red elderberry, which not only cannot be eaten, but after them you must wash your hands with soap. If their juice gets into scratches on the skin or cracks in the mucous membrane, consult a doctor immediately.

As for black elderberry berries, their use is not recommended for pregnant women suffering from colitis, diabetes insipidus and chronic stomach diseases. Elderberry is contraindicated for people with Crohn's disease and with individual intolerance to this berry.

There are about 20 varieties of elderberry, differing in size, shape and structure of leaves, and fruits. Black elderberry is often planted for decorative purposes. This culture can be found in the natural environment of temperate latitudes. A well-groomed shrub pleases the eye with numerous branches, large dense foliage, and it blooms beautifully and luxuriantly. It is useful to plant an elderberry bush in the garden or at the dacha; the smell emanating from it repels rodents and... Large clusters of black elderberry look bright and unusual in landscape design. Ripe berries have been used in folk medicine for a long time; they are used to make jam, syrups, juices, make wine, eat fresh, and dry.

Description of culture

Black elderberry belongs to the Adoxaceae family, its closest relative is. The shrub is small in size, grows quickly, the maximum height can be 8-10 meters. The flowering is lush and occurs between spring and early summer. Small flowers are collected in inflorescences; their color can be white, cream or yellowish. The fruits are small, there are many of them, the color of the berries is black with a purple tint, there are 2 or 4 seeds inside. The harvest can be harvested in late summer - early autumn.

Elderberry is widely known for its beneficial and medicinal properties; all parts of the plant are used in folk medicine - roots, leaves, flowers, berries.

A whole complex of biologically active elements is present in various parts of the plant. Among them are tannins and resins, essential oils, organic acids, vitamins, sugars, and carotene. Natural dyes - anthocyanins, which are part of elderberry fruits - are of particular value for the food industry.

Selecting a location

Elderberry is unpretentious, drought-resistant, but loves moisture and light. The shrub grows equally well in garden plots, dachas, and within the city. In darkened areas, the plant loses its external attractiveness - the branches rush into growth, become thinner, the foliage falls off and thins out. An elderberry bush can easily coexist with fruit, ornamental, and flowering plants, as long as they do not cast a shadow on it. The soil for the shrub should be selected with a slightly acidic environment. To reduce acidity, lime and dolomite flour can be added to the soil. This should be done before planting the plant in the ground.

Planting black elderberry

Black elderberry is planted in spring. The prepared plant can be planted in open ground in the fall after the leaves begin to fall. It is better to start planting in warm weather. In the first days, daily watering and frequent loosening are recommended.

Flowering of a young elderberry bush usually begins in the second or third year of life.

Proper planting of black elderberry:

• a month before planting, you should clear the selected area of ​​weeds, add humus or compost;
• two or three year old seedlings are the best choice for achieving rapid plant rooting;
• a hole for the seedling is dug half a meter deep, the bottom is loosened, about half a bucket of water is added;
• the prepared seedling is sprinkled with fertilized soil and lightly compacted, pressing the soil with your hands;
• it is buried so that the root collar remains above the surface of the earth in a free form;
• It is better to water a new plant after a few hours, when the soil has settled a little;
• if the seedling is not tall, then it is left free; if it is tall, then it must be tied to a peg.

Rules for caring for elderberries

Planting and caring for black elderberry is not very difficult, the main thing is that the plant has enough light and moisture and is not clogged with weeds. Bushes grow quickly, without outside help. If this is undesirable, then during planting you should limit the hole with iron, slate or construction mesh.

A urea solution is used as a nitrogen fertilizer when planting black elderberry, and also as a fungicide to protect the plant from pests, destroy unwanted insects, fungi, and mold in the upper layers of the soil and in the root system.

Rules and features of caring for black elderberry:

• in the spring, to prevent burns, the main trunk and skeletal branches are painted with lime;
• if after winter some branches turn out to be broken or dry, then they are cut off, and the cut points must be treated with garden varnish;
• twice a year (preferably in spring and autumn), dry fertilizers are scattered around the trunk, watering is carried out with liquid compounds for the nutrition and development of the plant;
• growth enhancers and mineral fertilizing are needed for weakened, slowly growing shrubs;
• when warm weather sets in (mid-May - early June), the bushes should be disinfected from pests;
• It is recommended to carry out molding pruning of bushes before color appears - in June or July;
• watering the bushes is carried out as necessary, and care must be taken that the water does not stagnate in the root part;
• to preserve moisture, it is recommended under bushes, using wood shavings, sawdust, peat;
• It is useful to periodically loosen the soil, remove weeds, apply organic fertilizer - compost, urea, manure, chicken droppings;
• At the end of flowering, repeated treatment with fungicides against harmful insects, powdery mildew, and mites is carried out.

Elderberry responds well to pruning. In early spring or late autumn, you can cut the shoots almost to the ground, then the growth process will be activated, and the plant will quickly and fully recover.

Vegetative propagation of elderberry

Black elderberry is propagated by cuttings. The vegetative method is considered the fastest and most reliable, preserving the varietal characteristics of the crop. To do this, you can use above-ground shoots, rhizomes, and parts of the plant.

How to propagate black elderberry:

• in June or July, before flowering, you should cut off several shoots with a sharp knife, the length of which is 10-12 cm;
• the best propagation material is green shoots of the first year of life;
• 1-2 leaves should be left on the prepared cuttings, the rest should be torn off;
• The cuttings are stored until planting in a damp mixture of sand and peat in a 1:1 ratio.

To speed up the rooting of cuttings after planting, they can be covered with film. An atmosphere of high humidity is created under the film, which has a positive effect on the process of root formation. To allow fresh air to flow in, holes must be made in the film. After a week, the film is usually removed. At first, abundant and frequent watering is recommended. After one and a half to two months, the plant becomes completely independent.

A high percentage of survival rate (within 95-98%) is shown by stem layering of black elderberry.

How to grow black elderberry in the country:

• for propagation by layering, young, non-lignified shoots, 2 or 3 years old, are used;
• the middle part of the shoot is buried in a groove, mulched on top with sawdust or old manure;
• Only the upper part of the shoot, approximately 20-30 cm, remains free;
• if you make an elderberry shoot at the beginning of summer, then by autumn the shoot will give roots;
• For wintering, the plant is best left in the form of uncut cuttings;
• next summer, the rooted shoot can be dug up and transplanted to another place.

It is recommended to divide the bush into parts for the purpose of propagation in the autumn. To do this, choose an adult plant, preferably a large bush. The separated part of the elderberry can be immediately planted in a permanent place, or temporarily transplanted into a container. The plant is planted in open ground from a container in early spring. You can plant bushes in this way only once per season in order to maintain the health of the mother plant.

Generative propagation of elderberry

Black elderberry seeds can be used for propagation. In this case, the specific characteristics of the culture may be irretrievably lost. The advantage is that the generative method allows you to immediately obtain many black elderberry seedlings ready for planting.

Under natural conditions, elderberry seeds are distributed by birds and animals that eat the fruits and release them into the external environment. Passing through the digestive system of a living organism, the seed coat is slightly damaged, which improves their germination in open ground. Scarification of black elderberry seeds is a process of special violation of the integrity of the seed coat in order to increase their germination.

On an industrial scale, for scarification, seeds are treated with sulfuric acid and ground with coarse sand. Seeds prepared in this way are sown in a moistened nutrient substrate and await their germination. Plants are watered abundantly and often, mulched, and covered during the winter period. Planting in open ground takes place after about a year.

Proper pruning of bushes

Sanitary pruning of elderberry takes place in spring and autumn. Once every 5 or 6 years, the main branches of the bush are cut off almost to the ground. After this, the plant quickly recovers, and new shoots quickly grow in place of the cut branches.

How to prune black elderberry correctly:

1. In spring, sanitary pruning is usually carried out to remove broken and dry shoots.
2. In harsh winters, the elderberry tree can freeze very much; in this case, it is recommended to prune the bush at the root.
3. Once every 4-5 years, it is recommended to trim the main branches of the elderberry, leaving only a quarter of them.
4. Pruning is especially necessary for mature fruit-bearing bushes; the plant quickly recovers, renewing itself naturally.

Diseases and pests of elderberry

All varieties of elderberry have one common feature: they release special aromatic substances into the environment. These secretions prevent the attack of small rodents and insect pests on the plant itself, as well as on the plantings located near it. The shrub is distinguished by its vitality and endurance, and it rarely gets sick. It easily gets along with a wide variety of crops and fits well with coniferous and deciduous trees. To prevent diseases and pests, it is recommended to periodically spray with insecticides. The optimal time for preventive treatment of shrubs is early spring and autumn, after the flowering process has completed. For this, a solution of copper sulfate or karbofos can be used.

Planting black elderberry provides decoration for a personal plot and provides versatile use of the fruits and parts of a valuable plant. Growing and caring for shrubs is simple; propagation occurs in several ways, so you can choose the most suitable one. Decoctions and infusions of elderberries help people cope with many diseases.

The Elderberry genus includes up to 40 species, the most decorative of which is the black elderberry. Planted on the plot, over time it will give you useful fruits. The plant does not require care and looks great in the garden, as can be seen in the photo.

Decorative forms and varieties

Black elderberry is a large ornamental deciduous shrub or tree. The plant is a long-liver (up to 60 years). It grows 3-4 m in height, sometimes up to 7 m. The leaves are rich green, imparipinnate, dissected into 5-9 lobes, and when rubbed they emit an unpleasant odor. Small white or yellowish flowers are collected in loose corymbs. The fragrant aroma of flowers attracts many pollinating insects to the garden. The fruits are glossy drupes in loose clusters. The leaves, bark and trunk of black elderberry are moderately poisonous.

Elderberry is very decorative both during the flowering and fruiting periods

Elderberry blooms in June for 3 weeks. By September, edible, sweet and sour fruits ripen, which are consumed both fresh and processed (wine).

The black elderberry species includes many garden forms. Among them there are bushes with a columnar (formerly pyramidal) and drooping (formerly weeping) crown. The most interesting varieties are presented in the photo. Among the species with unusual shape and color of foliage are:

B. fernifolia– the leaves are narrowly cut, and the white flowers have a musky aroma.

Elderberry fern-leaved

B. porphorolifolia- a form with purple or inky leaves and pinkish flowers with a pleasant strong scent. Popular varieties:

• "Purple";
• “Ginshu purple” is interesting due to the changing color of the leaves: green changes to inky, and in the fall to bright red;

Variety "Ginshu purple"

• "Black Beauty";
• "Eve".

B. powdery– characterized by the presence of yellow or white spots on the foliage. Interesting varieties:

• "Luteovariegata" - with a yellow border on the leaf;
• "Pulverulenta" - foliage densely covered with white plaques;

Variety "Pulverulenta"

• "Madonna" - foliage with multiple yellow spots.

Of the variegated varieties, it is worth highlighting “Albo-variegata” - with white-variegated leaves, “Aureo-variegata” - with golden-variegated leaves and “Aurea” with yellow leaves.

Variety "Aurea"

The “Witches Broom” variety reaches a height of only 20 cm, blooms rarely and does not bear fruit at all. The “Kazachka” variety, on the contrary, is distinguished by abundant flowering and fruiting.

Subtleties of landing

Black elderberry is a fairly hardy plant. Well-lit areas are chosen for planting. The plant can tolerate shade, but its decorative appearance suffers significantly.

Important! Forms with bright and variegated foliage colors are planted only in sunny areas. In the shade, the leaves become faded and lose their decorative effect.

Due to the property of elderberry to repel flies and other harmful insects, it is often planted near outdoor toilets and drainage pits. Fruit bushes and trees growing nearby will promote cross-pollination.

For normal development, black elderberry prefers fertile, slightly alkaline soils (loams). If the reaction is acidic, the soil should be deoxidized with lime in advance.

To plant black elderberry, choose fertile soils.

Planting of seedlings is carried out in spring or autumn, when the weather is warm. The planting hole is dug to a depth of about 40-50 cm and generously filled with organic matter and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. The root collar is not deepened. The seedling is sprinkled with earth and compacted under the weight of an adult’s body. Until the seedling takes root and begins to grow, it needs to be watered regularly. The young bush blooms in the third year.

Growing and care

Caring for black elderberry comes down to watering, keeping the soil clean and loose, and pruning. The plant can tolerate short-term drought, but prefers moist soil without stagnant water. On moist soils, elderberry looks juicy, blooms well, and the fruits are plump.

Advice. To maintain soil moisture in the hot season, it is recommended to mulch the trunk circle of black elderberry with sawdust, leaf litter, peat or other materials.

Pruning of bushes is carried out for decorative (to give shape to the crown) and rejuvenating purposes. In young plants, frozen and damaged branches are pruned in the spring. In summer, the bushes quickly recover. To rejuvenate old bushes, pruning is short, leaving no more than a quarter of the trunk. New shoots will grow over the summer.

Important! Pruning is especially important for fruiting elderberry varieties. Upon reaching the age of six, the branches stop bearing fruit. The peak of fruiting is observed on two to three year old branches.

The plant is almost never affected by diseases. The crown of the bush is sometimes attacked by aphids and spider mites. If signs of trouble appear, the plant should be immediately treated with fungicides.

Elderberry fruits ready for harvest in autumn

The fruits are harvested after full ripening. This happens in mid-September. The brushes are cut off entirely. The shelf life of the berries is short - 8-10 days in the refrigerator, so they are often processed. Uncut brushes can remain on the branches all winter. Elder flowers are prepared for medicinal purposes by cutting and drying them in the shade of trees or in the attic.

Application of fertilizers and fertilizers

Fertilizers for elderberries are applied in early spring. Solid mineral fertilizers are scattered in a circle near the trunk, after which they are embedded into the soil by harrowing to a depth of 10-15 cm, soluble fertilizers are applied with watering.

Advice. Black elderberry is very responsive to the addition of urea.

From organic matter, solid manure or compost is used, as well as infusions of litter. It is better to introduce them in the fall, every other year.

For black elderberry, fertilizing once a year is sufficient.

Reproduction

Methods for propagating black elderberry:

• seminal;
• green or woody cuttings;
• layering.

Elderberry seeds black autumn is sown in the soil. After a year, the seedlings reach a height of 50 cm and are ready for transplanting.

Important! Black elderberry grown from seeds loses most of its varietal properties. It is impossible to predict which plant will turn out, highly decorative or unsightly.

Green cuttings immediately after cutting they are planted in a temporary bed. Woody shoots are cut in the fall and stored in a cool place until spring. In the spring, cuttings 25 cm long are cut, leaving at least two pairs of buds, and also planted in a temporary place for rooting. The soil on the site is always kept moist. By autumn, the cuttings form roots and young shoots. For the winter, seedlings need shelter. The grown bushes are transplanted to a permanent place.

Green elderberry cuttings

For getting layerings Black elderberry branches are buried in the grooves in the fall, leaving the top on the surface. In the spring, young shoots will grow in this place; it is recommended to separate them from the mother bush after a few years.

Growing black elderberry on your own plot is not at all difficult. She needs basic care that does not require special skills. In return, the plant will give you a pleasant aroma during flowering, decorative foliage in the summer and healthy berries in the fall.

Planting and properties of black elderberry: video

Black elderberry: photo