American elderberry (stem cuttings)

It generally requires two distinct varieties for cross-pollination to insure abundant fruit production. Stem cuttings are sold in bundles of 4 and 12. I will mix varieties in a bundle if you ask.

Unrooted stem cuttings of elderberry are composed of 1 year hardwood cuttings with a set of leaf nodes at the top. Elderberry stem cuttings do not require a leaf node below ground to root. The sloped cut will be the soil end, and the flat cut will be on the end where leaves will emerge. Cuttings will be at least 6 inches in length, generally more.

Elderberry stem cuttings are easy to root with no special care or rooting hormones. It can be as simple as sticking the cutting in fertile, loose soil that is weed-free while it is dormant. Depth is important to keep the cutting moist where roots form, so make sure to get your cutting at least 3 inches deep and mulch it well. elder cuttings at 3-12" deep and mulch them. The cuttings can be prepared for planting this way in their permanent location in the fall, winter, or early spring in NC. Colder climates should plant this way in late fall OR early spring. Expect an 80 to 90 percent success rate in most cases. Plants should become vigorous and well-established after 1 year.

The ‘wild select’ variety listed here is a vigorous and productive wild elderberry that grows at Ardea Homestead Sanctuary, where Feralwood lives. The trend I have noticed over the past several years is that it seems to do best in years when the cultivars do not, so I recommend it as a buffer against potential poor cropping years from named varieties.