Expanding older tree population
**Growing and Caring for Elder Trees: A Guide to Sambucus nigra**
Elder trees, particularly the Sambucus nigra species, are a popular choice for gardens due to their striking foliage and abundance of flowers. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to grow, care for, and propagate these versatile plants.
**Growth and Appearance**
Elder trees can grow to a height of around 15m, but more typically reach heights of around 4-8m in gardens. Their growth habit varies, with some cultivars like 'Guincho Purple' boasting stunning foliage that starts out green, turning purple and red through the seasons, while others, such as 'Golden Tower' and 'Sutherland Gold', offer vibrant golden green or bright, golden yellow leaves. Some varieties, like 'Black Lace' and 'Black Beauty', even sport finely cut, almost black foliage.
**Planting**
The best time to plant a young elder tree is in autumn, after the leaves have fallen. Dig a generous hole and add mycorrhizal fungi to encourage root growth. Plant bare-root whips and small elder trees from autumn to spring, provided the soil isn't frozen.
**Positioning**
Choose a position in full sun to partial shade for planting an elder tree. They will thrive in most soils, but will get off to a good start in moist but well-drained soil.
**Pruning**
Pruning can restrict the size of elder trees considerably, and they are commonly grown as a shrub in gardens. Pruning an elder tree as a shrub should be done annually to maintain its shape. For best results, prune hard – down to a few stems in the ground.
**Propagation**
Elder trees can be propagated through semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and early autumn, or hardwood cuttings in winter.
**Care**
Keep newly planted elder trees well watered, and water established trees in very dry weather. Elder trees require very little care once established.
**Benefits**
Elder flowers are large, cream sprays with a strong fragrance, appearing from May. They are attractive to pollinators, making them a great addition to any garden. Blackbirds eat the small, purple-black berries that mature from elder flowers.
However, some elder species may suffer from black fly on young shoots. Soap sprays can be used to manually remove black fly from elder trees.
**Variegated and Ornamental Elders**
For those seeking a more ornamental elder, consider varieties like 'Marginata', which features small scented white flowers, black berries in late summer, and yellow-margined, dark green leaves. 'Black Lace' offers finely cut, almost black foliage, and pink-flushed blooms in summer, while 'Black Beauty' boasts almost black foliage and sweet, lemon scented, pale pink flowers in early summer.
**Conclusion**
In their natural habitat, elder trees typically live for about 15 to 20 years. Under optimal garden conditions, they can potentially live longer, often up to 30 years or more, with proper care and regular pruning. While elder trees might not live as long as some other tree species, they can still provide a long period of fruiting and flowering under proper care.
Sambucus nigra, often found in home-and-garden settings, is renowned for its diverse lifestyle adaptability, especially through gardening. With numerous varieties offering visually stunning foliage, such as 'Guincho Purple', 'Golden Tower', 'Sutherland Gold', 'Black Lace', and 'Black Beauty', these elder trees contribute significantly to garden landscapes and home-and-garden aesthetic.
