Elder (Sambucus nigra)

Our range of Elder bare root plants (Sambucus nigra)

We have bare root elder hedging or trees in several sizes.  The 1+0 specification plants are seedlings (often called whips) which were sown from seed in the spring and are sold during the following November to April months ie they are one year old.  We have elder bare root whips in several heights.

We always have several batches of seed of elder including UK provenance and the highest quality imported seed so if the seed provenance is particularly important to you, please give us a call so that we can allocate plants from the most appropriate batch.

In addition we have cell grown elder plants which are grown by one of the UK's best specialist growers and these plants are available all year round.

All of these plants are suitable as hedging plants or can be allowed to grow as full sized shrubby trees.

You can read more about the specifications we offer on the tab just below the pricing table - to the right of this product description.

Elder (Sambucus nigra) Summary

Famed for its flowers (which make elderflower cordial) and berries (poisonous until cooked into elderberry wine, jam, crumble and lots of other berry recipes) Elder is a very common hedging and woodland shrub throughout the UK growing in all soil conditions (including poor reclaimed land) with a preference to moist soils. It is very vigorous so can be used on its own to form a dense screen in double quick time but it is most often found as a component in a mixed native hedge. It is very wildlife friendly with moth caterpillars feeding on the leaves, many insects getting nectar from the pollen (and dormice and voles eat the flowers as well) and then abundant purple-black berries which are eaten by birds and mammals.

Soil and Situation

A sunny to partially shaded situation and moist soil.  Elder is tolerant to road salt so often seen in highway hedgerows.

Leaves, flowers and fruits

The leaves are ovate, pinnate (like a feather) and opposite with a serrated edge and in autumn the leaves turn pale yellow some tinged with pink and some strongly pink.

The flowers are showy in large umbels (up to 30cm across) of creamy coloured tiny flowers with 5 petals and are very highly scented and hence their use in elderflower cordial. Elder flowers in early June, after the big show of Blackthorn and Hawthorn are finished so it is an important supply of pollen and nector.

The fruits are purple/black drupes (sour berries) used in cooking and much sought after by wildlife.

Eventual height and growth rate

If left unpruned, Elder will grow to about 5m, but it responds well to hedge trimming.  It has a fast growth rate initially.

This section gives definitions on the specifications of plants that we sell.  We are specialists in field grown (or bare root) plants which are grown in two ways.  The majority are grown from seed, some are ready within one growing season (seedlings or 1+0's) and some species require two growing seasons (1u1's).  In addition to growing from seed we also grow from small plants or cuttings (transplants) which are much more widely spaced (taking more land, more irrigation water, fertilisers and labour).  There are only a handful of bare root wholesale nurseries in the UK and of those even fewer grow transplants but Ray Jenkins has many years' experience of transplanting so we grow these in large volumes.  Ray has written this blog about the benefits of bare root plants and how they are grown and another blog which gives further detail on bare root specifications.

The detailed specifications are shown below.  If you are in doubt about what specification to use please email us on enquiries@rjtreesandhedging.co.uk with a description of the project (and photos if appropriate) and we will advise you.

1+0 - field grown in one season from seed, known as a seedling (sometimes called a whip), generally a slender single stem plant.   These are the cheapest specification and are particularly suitable for planting where weed competition will be less intense, soil is shallow or on exposed windy sites.  Gives a high root to shoot ratio and minimal plant "check".

2+0 - a 2 year seedling, field grown from seed in the same seed bed in two growing seasons where the species cannot be grown to a saleable plant from seed in one season

1U1 - 2 year old plant called an undercut, field grown for two seasons in the same seed bed and undercut by machine (a sharp blade cutting the roots under the soil level) after the first year to develop the root structure. We do this with several species which take 2 years to develop (eg oak, beech, hornbeam)

1+1 - 2 year old plant (transplant) grown from seed in the first year and then transplanted into a different area of the field and spaced out for the second growing season - a robust plant with a larger and more robust root system than seedling or undercut plant which will enable it to better withstand drought and weed competition. Often the best choice and the staple norm for farm hedging and this specification is a requirement of the Countryside Stewardship Grant

1+2- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two growing seasons giving a tall, stocky, bushy plant

2+1- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further growing season, giving a strong bushy plant

3+1 - as above but field grown for a further growing season for more height and a very bushy plant

1+3- 4 year old, one year field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for three years, giving a very strong, bushy plant

2+2- 4 year old, two years field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two years - a very mature plant suited to certain species like beech and hornbeam where we can offer almost instant hedging

and some that are a bit different.....

P9 - a plant grown in a greenhouse or polytunnel in a 9cm pot (for holly which germinates poorly in the field)

Cell grown - a plant grown in small deep cells (like a small yogurt pot) and then lifted out of those for transportation. Commonly used in forestry and large hedging projects.  Very high quality plants with excellent success rate.  See our blog on the benefits of cell grown plants.

C+1 or C+2 - a 3 or 4 year old plant initally started as hardwood cuttings grown on for a year as cell grown plants and then lined out in fields to grow on for a further 1 or 2 years (a technique used for Cherry Laurel)

0/1 - a hardwood cutting, then field grown for one season (for example for white willow, black poplar and osier)