American Elderberry Breeders Mix

Elderberries are bushy woody perennial plants native to the eastern US. They are very popular as a natural immune-system booster and have long been consumed in the form of juice, wine, jam, and jelly. The fruit is best eaten after cooking. Leaves and stems should NOT be eaten.

There is not a lot of elderberry diversity on the market these days, meaning the growing elderberry industry is potentially susceptible to emerging pests and diseases. Since elderberries produce very little unless grown in the presence of another variety (that blooms at the same time), it is important to grow at least two or three or four different varieties. Each of the seeds in each packet we sell will produce a unique elderberry. Given how little breeding work is being done, you very well could grow the next important American elderberry cultivar (or, if you have European elderberries around, the next important hybrid cultivar!).

This mix includes seeds from a number of productive elderberries, including 'Wyldewood 2', 'York', and other cultivated varieties whose names are unknown to us, plus select wild plants found growing in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maine.

GROWING TIPS: Seeds likely benefit from cold, moist stratification for 30-60 days before attempting to germinate. They may take many more weeks to sprout. You could also try planting them outside in the fall or winter to allow nature to stratify them for you. Seedlings should be coddled for their first year or two, after which they will be just as vigorous as any other elderberry, and will be easy to propagate by cuttings. Given the challenges of germinating elderberries, we are offering these seeds as untested botanical samples.