Propagate Elderberry from Cuttings

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Elderberry bushes grow tiny bunches of elderberries that are a great antioxidant and boost the immune system. Elderberries are harvested in the late summer to fall. Elderberry plants can get expensive if buying more than one. I will show you how to propagate elderberry from cutting with just a few steps. They are surprisingly easy to grow and no special hormone powders to purchase.

The elderberry plants get 7-10 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide. It grows best in full sun to part shade, at least 6 hours of sun. Elderberries like moist but not soggy soil, although they can tolerate drought. The elderberry is a self fertile plant, meaning it creates fruit with a single plant. The berries are harvested in the late summer to early fall. Elderberry berries must be cooked before eating. Prune the elderberry plant in the early spring when it is still dormant. Elderberry plants grow fast and tolerate hot and cold conditions.

In the late winter to early spring, elderberry bushes with start to bud up as they prepare for the growing season. Prune elderberry bushes at this time, while they are dormant and have only grown the buds. Try to prune before the new leaves emerge. This is also when you can get some cuttings to propagate.

Cut an elderberry branch off of the main bush. It needs to have at least two nodes or buds.

The bottom bud will be used as the new rooting half and the top buds will be the new leaf and growth to create the new elderberry bush.

I will cut off a branch with 8 buds and use it for 4 new propagated plants.

Cut the branch so that the buds are about an inch from the top and bottom. There will be middle branch pieces that will be disposed of.

Take a pot and fill it with soil. The soil needs to be about 30-50% perlite or sand mix to allow for good drainage and root growth.

Take each elderberry cutting and place it into the pot with soil, keeping the top buds completely free to grow.

Water the cuttings well by bottom watering and soaking. Keep the cutting in moist but not soggy soil.

I place my pot of cuttings under a grow light until temperatures are warm outside.

Then I allow them to get real sun and experience rain, wind and the elements about a week or two before transplanting into the ground.

If the temperature drops down to freezing, while still in the container, I bring them back inside at night.

To transplant the cuttings into another container, carefully separate the cuttings from each other.

I use the same soil mix with some added compost or worm castings to container if giving them as gifts. However, elderberry plants do best in the ground.

Add a small amount of soil to the pot.

Add the elderberry cutting with roots down into the pot.

Cover with soil until it reaches the water line on the cutting. Tap the container down so that it makes good contact with the roots.

Water the plants in containers well. I like to bottom water so the roots know to go down the pot.

Aim to plant the elderberry plants into the ground when the ground soil is workable.

Dig a hole twice as big as the pot.

Take the plant out of the container and loosen the roots.

Place the plant, roots down, into the hole and cover back in with soil.

Water in well.

Keep soil moist but not soggy until the roots have a chance to settle into the ground. About 2 weeks.

After that, I allow nature to water the plants unless it is truly draught conditions.

In the late summer to early fall, you will have elderberry fruit to enjoy. I make elderberry syrup to use when my family needs an immune boost.