Gardeners can propagate elderberry (Sambucus spp.) simply by taking a cutting and rooting it in the soil. Propagation from cuttings is a basic method used to start woody shrubs and some herbaceous perennials. Softwood cuttings are best for propagating elderberries, thanks to their new growth that is just beginning to harden and mature. Take your cuttings in June, July or August and root them in the soil right away. A cutting forms new roots from leaf nodes on the stem and grows into a new elderberry plant identical to the parent.
Select a springy new branch that is just beginning to harden and turn from green to brown.
Cut the branch into sections 4 to 6 inches long, making multiple cuttings from a single branch.
Pinch off the leaves from the lower two-thirds of the cutting, leaving at least one set of leaves at the top.
Combine 1 part peat moss to 1 part sand in a bucket and mix it with water until the soil medium is damp and crumbly. Don't use regular garden soil to root elderberry cuttings. The medium has to be sterile and drain well or the cutting will rot without forming new roots.
Fill a 2- to 4-inch pot with the damp sterile soil mix.
Stick the bottom one-third of the cutting into the soil mix.
Place a clear plastic bag upside down over the pot and fasten the opening with a rubber band or twist tie to create a humid, warm environment around the cutting.
Put the cutting in a spot that gets bright indirect light, such as outside or on a porch. Summer climates provide enough natural heat for the cuttings as long as they are in the plastic bag.
Remove the plastic bag every two to three days and mist the elderberry cutting with water. When the top of the soil medium starts to dry out, add water until it is evenly damp.
Replace the plastic bag after each watering session.
Give the cutting a very gentle tug six weeks after rooting it. When the elderberry is firm in the soil, it's ready to transplant.
Fill a 6-inch pot with quality potting soil. Slide the cutting out of the starter pot and place it in the center of the new pot, keeping the base of the cutting at the same level in the soil.
Soak the potting soil around the cutting. At this point, leave the plastic bag off and place the elderberry back into filtered indirect light.
Fertilize the growing elderberry once a month using an all-purpose water-soluble balanced fertilizer as directed on the package label.
Transplant the elderberry cutting into the landscape in the spring following rooting. Pick a spot that gets full sun or part shade, with humus rich soil and good drainage. Dig a planting hole and place the new elderberry shrub into the soil with the base of the stem level with the soil line.
Things You Will Need
- Pruning shears
- In Mediterranean climates, American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is a good choice because it's hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. Look for this plant under some of its other common names -- Arizona elderberry, wild elderberry or New Mexican elder. There are a variety elderberry species that grow best in zones 3 through 8.
- Take cuttings first thing in the morning, and keep them cool and damp until planting time or, better yet, plant them right away.
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