So I just read in _Fruits and Berries for the Home Garden_ by Lewis Hill that elderberry can be propogated using root cuttings. However, he doesn't mention at what time of year I can do this. Could I do it now, in the fall? Or, as I suspect, would one not plant in the fall since there would be no growth. So should I wait until spring to do take root cuttings?

thanks

See "Propagation" section in the document linked below:

Here is a link that might be useful: Elderberry Research....

Interesting link, Brandon. You must be a professional nurseryman, from the wide variety of information you post.

I was surprised to see that root cuttings of elderberries are supposed to be taken in March! As a novice hobbyist, I though all root cuttings were made in the Fall.

I, too, love elderberries and the shrubs. I'll be taking cuttings and planting some native blue elderberries soon at my place as well.

Rain2Fall

Well, as luck would have it, the county came by and cut down everything by the roads so that big elderberry bush is no more. I managed to grab the root ball though and planted some cuttings. I didn't know that I was supposed to take 'pencil size' roots so planted mostly smaller roots. Combined with the fact that they are fall planted, I don't have great hopes that anything will grow, but we'll see... thanks for the link to that great doc, brandon.

I linked to the photos you took of your plant and have to say I'm not sure that it's an elderberry. I don't know what it is. Elderberry leaves are pinnately compound and arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the stem. Below is a link to a photo.

Here is a link that might be useful:

My guess would be poke weed. Try googling them. If so should have plenty from seeding.
Pattie

That's not a elderberry in your picture.

The plant in the link you posted, botemout, is definitely pokeweed, which toxic - do not eat it. Pokeweed and Elderberry do share some visual similarities. However the easiest way to tell them apart is the structure of the berry cluster.

Elderberry clusters look like this: http://clarysageherbarium.com/blog/elderberry-super-flu-fighter

Pokeweed berry clusters look like this: http://www.finegardening.com/item/12265/american-pokeweed

Cheers.

hey nick.. this is a 4 year old post.. lol ...

winter must be tough and long.. for you to be this far back in the GW history of posts .. lol ..

yes its pokeweed.. seriously poisonous in every aspect... above ground.. underground.. berries.. and bird planted by the millions in my garden ... i hate them with the passion of a million burning suns ....

ken