How to grow Elderflower in Australia
Elder (Sambucus nigra) is a fast, soft-leaved deciduous shrub grown for its creamy, scented flower heads, which make cordial, and for its dark berries, which are cooked into syrup and jam. It is easy to grow in sun or part shade in most soils. It is also an environmental weed in Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania, so choose its spot with care.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Elderflower in Australia
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | 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. |
Not to be confused with: The native white elderberry (Sambucus gaudichaudiana) and yellow elderberry (Sambucus australasica), eastern Australian shrubs with pale berries. This page covers the European elder used for cordial.
Where to plant
Elder is not fussy. It grows in sun or part shade and in most soils, and it copes with both wet and dry spells, although it grows best in moist, fertile soil and dislikes being waterlogged for long. Allow room: it reaches 3 to 4 m in a garden, and the many stems sucker and spread.
European elder has naturalised in damp waste ground across eastern Australia and is listed as an environmental weed in Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania. The berries spread its seed. Check with your local council before planting, keep it well away from bushland and creek lines, and consider growing it in a large pot or behind a root barrier. Picking the flowers for cordial also stops berries forming and seeding.
- Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart and Adelaide: elder grows strongly in these cool and temperate climates. Plant from May to July (June to August in Hobart).
- Sydney and Perth: plant from May to July in a spot with good soil and regular water in summer.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: plant from May to July. Elder grows here, but it is a listed environmental weed in Queensland, so keep it contained and away from bushland.
- North Queensland and the Top End: not recommended.
How to plant
- Plant a potted elder or a rooted cutting in winter while it is dormant, or in spring or autumn. Avoid planting into waterlogged soil or during hot, dry weather.
- Dig a hole a little wider than the pot and plant at the same depth as it grew in the pot.
- Water in well and mulch, keeping the mulch a little clear of the stems.
- Water regularly through the first year while the roots establish.
- If you are worried about suckering, plant into a large pot or put a root barrier around the planting hole.
Watering and feeding
Water a new plant regularly for its first year. Once established, elder is fairly drought tolerant, but give it a deep soak during long dry spells. Leaves that shrivel and brown at the edges are a sign it needs water.
It needs little feeding. A general fertiliser in spring after pruning, followed by a layer of organic mulch, is enough.
Pruning and care through the year
- Leave a young elder unpruned for about two years while it establishes.
- After that, prune in late winter while it is dormant to keep it to size: remove dead and damaged wood, and cut some of the oldest stems to the ground so fresh stems grow from the base.
- Overgrown plants can be cut back hard in late winter and regrow quickly, though you may lose a season of flowers.
- Pull or cut out suckers that come up where you do not want them, and pull out any seedlings that come up around the garden.
Harvesting
Elder flowers mainly from October to January. Pick flower heads on a dry, sunny day when most of the tiny flowers are open and fragrant, before they start to brown. Cut the whole flat head with a short stalk, shake out any insects and use them fresh, within a day.
If you want berries, leave some flower heads on the plant. The berries ripen to glossy black in late summer and autumn. Pick whole clusters when every berry is fully black, and remove any green berries and all the stalks before cooking.
Growing in pots
Elder grows well in a large pot, at least 50 cm wide, filled with a good potting mix. A pot keeps the suckering roots in check, which is the simplest way to grow it where weed spread is a worry. Water potted plants more often in summer, and prune each winter to keep the plant in proportion to the pot.
Using it
The flowers flavour cordial, sparkling elderflower drinks and desserts, and can be dipped in batter and fried as fritters. Homemade cordial keeps about three months in the fridge when made with citric acid, about three weeks without it, and it freezes well.
Treat the rest of the plant with care. The leaves, stems, bark, roots and unripe berries contain compounds that can release cyanide, and raw ripe berries can cause nausea and vomiting. Only eat berries that are fully ripe and cooked, such as in syrup, jam or pies, and strain out the seeds. Keep children and pets from eating berries off the bush.
Propagation
Elder grows easily from cuttings. Take hardwood cuttings of healthy stems from the current season's growth in late autumn and winter after the leaves fall and push them into a pot of moist mix or a spare garden bed. Softwood cuttings in late spring also root well in a warm, humid spot. Seedlings do not reliably match the parent plant.
Varieties
- Common Elder
- Black Lace
Companion planting
Elder is a big shrub that is best given its own spot at the edge of the garden or at the back of an orchard.
Good companions
- Fruit trees Elder fits at the edge of an orchard or in a mixed hedge with other fruiting plants. Plant it 3 to 4 m from neighbours, as it grows large and suckers.
Pests and diseases
Elder is generally healthy. The main pest is aphids on soft new growth in spring.
Pests to watch for
- Aphids Clusters of black aphids on young shoot tips and flower stalks in spring. Hose them off or squash them.
Elderflower is rarely troubled by disease.
Common questions
Is elderflower a weed in Australia?
European elder (Sambucus nigra) is listed as an environmental weed in Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania and has naturalised in damp areas across eastern Australia, mostly from seed spread by birds. Check with your council, keep it away from bushland, and grow it in a large pot or pick most of the flowers so fewer berries form.
Can you eat raw elderberries?
No. Raw elderberries can cause nausea and vomiting, and unripe berries, leaves, stems and bark are more toxic. Eat only fully ripe berries that have been cooked, for example in syrup, jam or pies, with the stalks removed and the seeds strained out.
When does elderflower bloom in Australia?
Mainly from October to January, depending on the climate. Pick the flower heads on a dry, sunny day when most flowers are open and fragrant.
Can I grow elderflower in a pot?
Yes. A pot at least 50 cm wide works well and has the advantage of keeping the suckering roots contained. Water more often in summer and prune each winter to keep it in proportion.
How do I grow elder from a cutting?
Take hardwood cuttings of healthy stems from this year's growth in late autumn or winter after the leaves drop, and push them into moist potting mix or a spare bed. Softwood cuttings in late spring also strike well in a warm, humid spot.
How do I prune an elder?
Leave it for about two years after planting, then prune in late winter: remove dead wood and cut some of the oldest stems to the ground so new ones grow from the base. An overgrown elder can be cut back hard and will regrow quickly.
Does elder need full sun?
No. Elder grows in full sun or part shade and is not fussy about soil, so it suits an awkward or damp corner as long as the ground is not waterlogged for long.
Sources we checked: Gardening Australia: Elderflower cordial; Environmental Weeds of Australia (Lucid): Sambucus nigra; VicFlora, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: Sambucus nigra; RHS: How to grow Sambucus; Australian National Botanic Gardens: Sambucus gaudichaudiana; University of Florida IFAS: Elderberry.