Wasatch Wild Elderberry

The Wasatch Wild Elderberry (Sambucus nigra Canadensis) is a top-performing American Black Elderberry, first discovered in 1969 by Larry Howell beside a remote creek in Utah’s Wasatch Range. Larry nurtured this hardy variety for decades, and now The Farm on Central has tested them in our zone 6 climate. Adapted to extreme conditions—from Cache Valley’s -30°F winters to 100°F summers—these self-fertile shrubs thrive in USDA Zones 3-9, reaching 10-12 feet at maturity. Known for heavy yields of large, ¼-inch dark purple-black berries, they’re perfect for syrups, jams, wine, and medicinal uses. Packed with antioxidants and vitamins A and C, this low-maintenance, fast-growing plant suits home gardeners, small-scale growers, and wildlife enthusiasts alike. Order your cuttings today and enjoy a legacy of vigor and abundance!

Why Choose Wasatch Wild Elderberry?

• Extreme Resilience: Bred for cold and heat tolerance, ensuring consistent harvests.
• Abundant Crops: Produces large berry clusters for culinary and health benefits.
• Versatile Growth: Thrives in sandy loam to heavy clay soils.
• Pollinator-Friendly: Creamy white flowers attract bees and butterflies; berries feed birds.
• Non-GMO: wild sourced, never genetically modified.

Shipping Details: Sold as dormant cuttings in bundles, shipped fresh starting in February. Store in your refrigerator until planting.

Care and Planting Manual for Wasatch Wild Elderberry Cuttings

From The Farm on Central – Growing Your Wasatch Wild Elderberries
Originally discovered by Larry Howell in 1969, the Wasatch Wild Elderberry has been perfected over decades for resilience and productivity.  Follow this guide for success.

Planting Instructions

1. Timing
   • Plant in spring after the ground thaws (February to mid-spring) or up to the first fall frost.
   • For delayed planting, store cuttings in your refrigerator’s crisper (34°F or colder) for up to 60 days.
2. Location
   • Choose full sun to partial shade for best growth and fruiting.
   • Space plants 4-6 feet apart in rows 18-20 feet apart to ensure airflow, sunlight, and maximum yields at maturity (10-12 feet tall).
3. Soil Prep
   • Use moist, well-draining soil (pH 6.0-7.0); tolerates sandy loam to heavy clay.
   • Clear weeds for the first two seasons to support rooting—no fertilizer needed at planting.
4. Planting the Cuttings
   • Push the slanted end into the soil, burying the bottom nodes 1¼-2 inches deep.
   • Water thoroughly after planting—no pre-soaking or rooting compounds required.

Care Instructions

1. Watering
   • Provide 1-2 inches of water weekly, increasing during extreme heat.
   • Focus on root establishment—top leaves may not appear in the first season.
2. First Spring
   • Cuttings may look dead—don’t remove them! Water and watch for green shoots at the base.
   • Keep weeds away; avoid wood chips (they deplete nitrogen). Well-cured mulch is fine.
3. Second Season
   • Continue watering and weeding—no pruning yet.
   • Expect leaves and possibly flowers or small berries by mid-summer. Harvest ripe berries (dark purple-black) at season’s end. Note: Unripe berries, leaves, and stems are mildly toxic—only eat fully ripe fruit.
4. Third Season & Beyond
   • Maintain care routine. Optional: Add fertilizer or use green manuring/cover crops for larger berries (see Dr. Elaine Ingham’s soil tips online).
   • Enjoy substantial berry and flower harvests for culinary or medicinal use.

Harvesting

• Wait until berries are dark purple-black (not green, red, or light purple).
• Clip entire clusters; freeze overnight in a bag, then tap to separate berries. Use fresh, freeze for up to a year, or process quickly—refrigerated berries spoil fast.

Pruning

• Prune in late winter or early spring of the third season, after dormancy.
• Remove dead wood and cut remaining stems to 2 pairs of nodes above ground for vigorous regrowth (8-10 feet).

Pro Tips

• Wildlife & Beauty: Plant as a hedgerow or privacy screen to support pollinators and birds.
• Hardiness: Excels in harsh winters and short growing seasons, a testament to its Utah roots.

Final Notes

With minimal effort, your Wasatch Wild Elderberries will thrive and reward you with years of harvests. Questions? Contact The Farm on Central. Enjoy growing a piece of Larry Howell’s legacy!