Black Elderberry
You're making an investment in your land — protect it. Each kit has a Tree Pro tube and a slow-release fertilizer block for one tree. The tube keeps deer and rabbits off and can double your growth rate; the fertilizer feeds the tree through its first season. Plant with a kit, follow the Growing Guide, and your trees are covered by our 1-Year Survival Guarantee.
What you're planting
- Drop Time
- Aug – Sept
- First Crop
- 2–3 years
- Produces
- Every year
- Pollination
- Plant 2 or more
- Zones
- 4–9
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade
- Soil & Site
- Most soils, thrives in rich moist ground. pH 5.0–7.0.
- Size & Spacing
- 8–12ft shrub · plant 10–12ft apart
Orders placed now are for Spring 2027 shipment
We take orders in advance and ship at the proper time for spring planting in your region — mid-December in the Deep South through the end of May up north. Pick your state under "When Will My Order Ship?" below and you’ll see your exact ship dates.
Get your order in now, we sell out early every season!
Strictly speaking elderberries are shrubs not trees but they have tremendous value as both a conservation planting and for human use as well. Black Elderberries produce large clusters of dark black/purple berries that are a great food source for songbirds, quail, pheasants, and even deer. The shrubs themselves provide excellent cover for small animals like quail and rabbits. Elderberries make great additions when trying to manage for old field or edge style habitat. Elderberries can reach approx. 6-12ft tall at maturity.
The elderberry plant also used widely for medicinal purposes as they are extremely high in nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants. While we don’t give out medical advice, we know many people swear by this plant to help boost their health. Always consult a physician before making any medical decisions.
Plant each tree with one of our Survival Kits (a Tree Pro tube and a slow-release fertilizer block), follow our planting instructions, and it’s covered by our 1-Year Survival Guarantee. Full details here.
Drop time: Aug-Sept
Years till production: 2-3
Growing zones: 4-9
Soil type: Adapts well to most soils but does great in rich moist soils
pH: 5.0-7.0
Sun: Full sun- partial shade
Pollination: Need at least 2 for pollination
Size when shipped: 1yr old approx. 18-36in
Spacing: 10-12ft
Add Late Drop and keep chestnuts falling into December.
By November most acorns have been mopped up and the woods go quiet. Late Drop Hybrids are selected to drop Nov–late Dec, right when deer have the fewest options. Our recommendation: a 1:1 mix.
Questions we get about Black Elderberry
We don't ship on the day you order. We take orders in advance and ship at the proper time for spring planting in each region — from mid-December in the Deep South through the end of May up north. Pick your state below to see your exact window. Orders placed after your region has already shipped go out within 5–10 business days.
A Tree Pro grow tube and a slow-release fertilizer block for one tree. The tube protects the seedling from deer and rabbits and can double its growth rate; the fertilizer block feeds the tree through its first growing season. Every tree we ship is already inoculated with beneficial mycorrhizae, so there's nothing else to add — plant it in the kit, follow the Growing Guide, and it's covered by our 1-Year Survival Guarantee.
Plant with a Survival Kit and we guarantee the tree for a full year. If a tree dies within one year of the day it's delivered, we'll issue you store credit for what you paid for it. You don't have to worry about spending your money on something that may or may not make it.
To be covered, plant each tree with one of our Survival Kits (a Tree Pro tube and a slow-release fertilizer block), keep the tube on, and follow our planting instructions. Email us photos and your order number within a year of delivery.
For all details and conditions, see here: 1-Year Survival Guarantee
