Marge Elderberry

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

6-8 Feet

Mature Spread

3-4 Feet

Growing Zones

4 to 7

A heavy-bearing elder with big, inky clusters and a refined habit, Marge delivers kitchen-ready fruit for syrups, jellies, cordials, and pies—plus frothy spring bloom that hums with pollinators. Bred for reliability and flavor, this selection shrugs off variable weather, handles a range of soils, and forms a handsome, upright bush that’s as useful as it is ornamental.

Marge Elderberry Care

Plant in full sun for the best yield (light afternoon shade is fine in hotter regions). Give it deep, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil enriched with compost; elderberries appreciate steady moisture, especially from flowering through fruit swell. Water regularly the first 1–2 seasons to establish, then during dry spells.

Mulch 2–3 inches over the root zone to keep roots cool and suppress weeds. Feed lightly in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or a top-dress of compost. Prune in late winter: remove weak or damaged shoots, thin crowded growth, and leave a mix of 1- to 3-year-old canes (the most productive).

Marge is generally self-fertile but sets heavier crops with another elderberry nearby. Netting may be needed as fruit colors to deter birds. Hardy approximately in USDA Zones 4–8. Note: cook berries before eating; leaves, stems, and seeds are not for consumption.

Marge Elderberry Spacing

For a productive hedgerow, plant 4–6 feet apart on center with rows 8–12 feet apart for access and airflow. As individual landscape shrubs, allow 6–8 feet between plants to accommodate the mature canopy.

In large containers (at least 20–24 inches wide), grow one plant per pot with consistent watering and annual pruning to renew fruiting wood.

Why Grow Marge Elderberry?

• Abundant clusters of dark fruit with rich, classic elderberry flavor

• Reliable producer in varied soils and climates; pollinator-friendly bloom

• Useful as a fruiting hedge, wildlife resource, or handsome stand-alone shrub

• Straightforward pruning and low routine care once established

• Great for syrups, jellies, cordials, pies, and freezer-friendly harvests

• Cold-hardy (approx. Zones 4–8); responds well to annual renewal pruning

A beautiful, hardworking shrub that rewards good siting with baskets of fruit—Marge Elderberry brings pollinator buzz in spring and pantry-worthy harvests by late summer.