Elderberry, Red - Sambucus racemosa spp. pubens

A small to medium shrub 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) tall very similar to blue elderberry except as noted; leaves are opposite, deciduous, pinnate compound composed of 5 to 7 leaflets which are broadest at middle, rounded at base, pointed at tip, sharply toothed along edge and hairy below; flowers produced in broad, spreading, rounded yellowish-white clusters; fruit berries, red to purple-black and with 3 to 5 seeds per berry. Habitat is along protected banks, washes of streams, fence rows, rocky pastures and other drier riparian locations on well drained moist soils at low to mid elevations. Fruit ripens from June through September. Cleaning, handling, and storage of seed is the same as Sambucus cerulea; Pretreatment of seed includes H₂SO₄ scarification for 5 minutes followed by a two day water soak, then warm stratification for 10 weeks followed by cold chilling for 12 weeks at 20 to 30°C (68 to 86°F); fresh seed may be fall sown, or stratify stored seed as previously described before spring planting, germination typically occurs the second spring.

Greenhouse asexual propagation is by softwood cuttings taken in June or July. A basal cut just below a node and removal of 30 to 40 percent of the foliage is recommended. Treat cuttings with Captan fungicide solution and approximately 3,000 to 5,000 parts per million IBA. Place in vermiculite or a 1:1, peat:perlite mix, under mist with or without 60% shade for several weeks. Hot, humid greenhouse conditions are said to favor rooting, however, excessive moisture may cause the foliage to rot. Approximately 30% rooting can be expected. Young seedlings can be transplanted at 1 to 2 years of age.

Field propagation by dormant unrooted hardwood cuttings is somewhat successful under conditions described for Blue elderberry. Note that cuttings do not do well in cold storage and should be planted early enough in the field to allow enough time to become established before winter. It can also be propagated by sprouts, rhizomes, and layering.

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Last Modified: 07/05/2007