Common Elderberry Trees
Sambucus Nigra Hedging
The Common Elderflower tree, Sambucus nigra, is a large native shrub that can be used as a rough, rugged country hedging plant. It will grow almost anywhere.
Left alone, Elderflower makes a verdant tree about 6 metres high. You can also buy Golden Elder trees here. Alternatively, view our selection of native hedging or see our full range of hedging plants.
Elderflower plants are only delivered bareroot, during winter (Nov-March).
All our hedge plants are measured by their height in centimetres above the ground (the roots aren't measured).
Spacing an Elderflower hedge:
Plant Elder hedging at 2-3 plants per metre, 33-50cms apart.
This plant is aggressive and is not recommended for a mixed hedge. It will never form a tidy, formal hedge and looks best when it is allowed to get a bit overgrown.
General description of Elderflower plants:
The Common Elderflower or Elderberry is a small native tree or large shrub with graceful, fern-like leaves. It produces white flowers and purple berries, which are used in elderflower cordial and wine or syrup making respectively.
Elder (Sambucus nigra )is included in some mixed hedging packs although isn't really suitable for planting in the middle of a native hedge because it will aggressively grow into the plants beside it. You can control this with hard pruning, but to save you the effort we recommend using it at the end of a hedge, on a strip by itself or planting it away from the hedge and letting it grow as a large shrub or small tree. Letting it grow freely will also give you a lot more flower heads and then berries.
History & uses of Sambucus nigra:
Homemade Elderflower Cordial is a fabulous soft drink, and easy to make. Feel free to use our own elderflower cordial recipe.