Sambucus

16 years ago

I am looking at adding Sambucus racemosa (also called sambucus pubens) red elderberry to my back bush this spring. In my garden I have two Sambucus racemosa 'Sutherlands Gold' although these are up near the house. Will they cross pollinate? Is this good or bad? How close do they have to be. I also have was what labeled Sambucus nigra 'Black beauty' near the back although mine is green not black so I think it was mislabeled. Will any Sambucus pollinate the Red Elderberry to get berries or do I need to plant two of the same?

Thanks again everyone for all your help. Learning to expand my gardening beyond just aesthetics!

Sharon

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Comments (5)

phutchin_mt
16 years ago
I have seen in at least one gardening catalog this winter that elderberries need pollinators of a different variety.
One catalog was recommending NOVA and YORK. A nursery in the northwest that has good info can be found at this website: www.raintreenursery.com
Go to elderberries and it shows 14 varieties most with the needed pollinator.
Iris GW
16 years ago
Your new Sambucus racemosa (species plant) should cross pollinate fine with your 'Sutherlands Gold' (cultivar of S. racemosa) as long as they actually bloom at the same (or overlapping) time. Bloom time is key, of course.

Your 'Black Beauty' may not be getting enough sun; dark foliaged plants color better when they get enough full sun (in this case, at least 6 hours per day). If it is getting enough sun and is still not dark colored, you're right that it may be mislabeled.
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hoyess
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks all. Re the Black Beauty it was definitely mislabeled. It has been planted in two different spots (man do the roots really spread quickly on those plants!) both times full sun. Flowers are white, not pink and leaves are green.

Re the racemosa I think I will get at least two species plants and hope for the best.

I may have to change where I'm buying my plants though as I have had a lot of problems with mis-labelling. I bought three viburnum trilobum, supposed to be species, but they have not had berries in three years so I suspect they are clones. I am going to buy 3-5 viburnum trilobum bailey compacta and put them in another garden about 45 feet away and hope for berries on both. The same nursery has also made mistakes on roses in the past for me.

Related to this how close does a male pollinator have to be? I am going to buy some lindera benzoin. I'll put three in one garden (including one male) but was hoping to put one in another garden a couple hundred feet away. If I put a female further off will it still get berries?

Sharon
ontnative
15 years ago
It is my understanding that red elderberry (Sambucus pubens) does NOT need a second plant nearby for pollination. Sambucus canadensis (Canada Elderberry) needs two different plants, either 2 diff. clones if nursery-grown, or 2 diff. "wild" plants.
gottadance
15 years ago
I have a couple of red elderberry and just one common elderberry (Canadensis). The Canadensis does not need a second plant nearby for pollination. I'm not sure with the red elderberry but I get my plants from this place and in their description they usually tell you if you need more than one plant to pollinate - www.possibilityplace.com - and they don't mention it for red elderberry.