Willow · CC BY 2.5
Elder
Shrub·Sambucus nigra
Full sun
Sun
Medium
Water
Moist soil
Drainage
Zones 3–9
Hardiness
Elder (Sambucus nigra) is a shrub. It grows best in full sun and has moderate water needs.
Through the year
DormantLeafing outFloweringFruitingDying back
Works well with
from wiki dataNo companions recorded.
WHAT IT NEEDS
Wants full sun
Needs moderate water
Tolerates moist soil, as long as it drains well
Prefers soil pH 6–7.5
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Prefers loam, clay, silt soil
Tolerates some soil compaction
Draws up potassium, calcium, phosphorus from deep in the soil
Adds a lot of organic matter to the soil
Partners with mycorrhizal fungi to boost nutrient uptake
WHAT IT GIVES
Gives mulch biomass (high)
Gives nectar (abundant)
Gives pollen (abundant)
Provides potassium
Provides calcium
Provides phosphorus
Attracts pollinators
Attracts birds
HOW IT GROWS
SIZE & SPACING
Shrub layer
Height300–600 cm
Spacing300 cm (min 200 cm)
Root depthMedium
Width300–600 cm
Width figures are rough estimates, the most variable measurement in our data.
AI estimate · accuracy improves as growers contribute corrections.
HOW TO PROPAGATE
Propagate by cuttings, seeds, division
Difficulty
Establishes in about 2 yr
Self-seeds readily on its own
Where this comes from
Parsed11 Sept 2026
ConfidenceNot recorded
Photograph Willow · CC BY 2.5