How to grow Elderflower in Australia
Grow elder for its flowers in full sun to part shade in moist, fertile soil, where it forms a fast, vigorous shrub. Water well while young, then it copes with most conditions.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 5 litres a week, watered every 3 days
- Spacing: 300 cm
- Time to harvest: 365 days (about 1 year)
- Time to germinate: 30 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7.5
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | May to July | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | May to July | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | May to July | Good winter chill for flowering. Reliable. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | May to July | Thrives in Melbourne. Good chill for heavy flowering. Classic cottage garden plant. |
| Adelaide & SA | May to July | Reliable. Good chill for flowering. |
| Perth & WA | May to July | Reliable. Good for Perth gardens. |
| Tasmania | June to August | Plant Jun to Aug. Thrives in Tasmania with heavy flowering. Flowers and berries both crop well. |
| Canberra & ACT | May to July | Thrives in Canberra. Good chill for heavy flowering. |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not viable. Needs winter chill. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not viable. Needs winter chill. |
Varieties
- Common Elder
- Black Lace
Companion planting
Good companions
- Fruit trees
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick the flower heads when most florets are open, creamy and fragrant, before they brown. Cut the whole umbel on a dry day and shake out any insects.
Storage
Use flowers fresh within a day or two. Cordial and syrup store for months. Freeze berries.