- Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)
- Mature Height 8 - 10 Feet
- Mature Spread 8 - 10 Feet
- Growing Zones 3 - 8
The Adams Elderberry is a striking deciduous perennial. The shrub is covered in dark green foliage that comes to a point and has serrated edges, and by June, the plant will be dotted by bunches of creamy white flowers. By late summer, the flowers give way to clusters of small dark blue to almost black fruit. The Sambucus canadensis Adams is native to North America, and it is tolerant of most conditions found within USDA zones 3 through 8, making it relatively easy to grow.
Use this impressive shrub as a specimen or to create a hedge. At 8 to 10 feet tall and wide, this plant can create a slight privacy screen during the growing season, especially when several are planted in a row. The flowers and berries attract butterflies and birds, making this plant a great option to include in a butterfly garden.
Adams Elderberry Care
The Adams Elderberry prefers full sun to partial shade. This plant is forgiving and can handle most soil types, but use moist, rich soil that is neutral to acidic for best results. While this plant likes damp conditions, standing water is not good, so the soil should promote drainage, and the area should not be prone to flooding. Water when the top couple of inches of soil is dry. The Adams Elderberry has a shallow root system and will generally need 1 to 2 inches of water per week during the growing season.
Amend the soil with organic compost when planting and top-dress the soil each year to provide extra nutrition. Feed the plant using balanced, slow-release fertilizer to ensure maximum flower and berry production during the spring. Remove damaged growth as necessary. Older branches will not produce as many flowers and can be trimmed back to promote new growth. Suckers can be cut back to clean up the look and refocus energy into new growth.
Adams Elderberry Spacing
The Adams Elderberry is a large upright shrub that can reach 8 to 10 feet tall and equally wide. Plants grown as a specimen or focal point should be spaced 6 to 7 feet from other plants and buildings. Create a full hedge or mass planting by spacing plants 4 to 5 feet apart.
Adams Elderberry Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 - 8 |
Plant Type: Bushes |
Light Exposure: Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight) |
Mature Height: 8 - 10 Feet |
Mature Spread: 8 - 10 Feet |
Spacing: 8 - 10 Feet |
Habit: Upright |
Flower Color(s): White |
Flower Description: Creamy White |
Bloom Period: June |
Foliage Type: Deciduous |
Foliage Color(s): Green |
Foliage Description: Deep Green |
Seasonal Interest: Summer Flowering |
Watering: Average |
Resists: Disease, Pests & Insects |
Tolerates: Heat, Drought, Salt |
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies |
Container Role: |
Uses: Specimen or Focal Point, Wildlife Gardens |
Features: Attracts Pollinators, Native to North America |
Brand: |
Common Name: Adams Elderberry |
Other Name(s): |
Scientific Name: SAMBUCUS CANADENSIS `ADAMS` |
- SKU:
- 1231003311-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
For more detailed information, please click here.
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Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations
Plant Shipping
Time of Order:
Summer Shipping
- If there is extreme heat we’ll delay shipping.
- We’ll have to review what areas the plants are traveling through along with your location
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an email with tracking information. Depending on the above criteria we’ll ship your plant(s) towards beginning of the following week from your order. We put together this helpful guide of what to do when you receive your plants in the mail.
It is important to know that all of our plants are clearly labeled for which growing zones the plant can survive in. The plants are thoroughly trialed and tested in every growing zone before we state the plant can grow in a zone. Again, our #1 priority is to ship the plants to you healthy and ready to thrive in your location. So we will do everything in our power to do so.