North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Douglas Woodard <dwoodard@becon.org>]

A Canadian source for S. canadensis is

http://www.cornhillnursery.com

Service is good, but order early.

Doug Woodard
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada



jelie@new.rr.com wrote:
> Caren, There are some nice varieties of elders out there.  The European varieties (sambucus nigra) and the American varieties (sambucus nigra var. canadensis) both have some outstanding cultivars.  I would think that both would be readily available to you in QC.  
>
> Some American varieties:  Nova, Johns, Adam, and York 
>
> The European varieties are more numerous and varied:  Goldbeere (gold colored 
> fruit, Samdal (of Danish origin), Korsor, Alesso, Black Beauty (dark leaves 
> with typical structure, pink flowers), Black Lace(dark lacey foliage with 
> pink flowers), Laciniata (Green lacey leaved), variegated, and Haschberg.
>
> Here is a pdf file on elderberries from New York state:
>
> http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pubs/fls/OCRPDF/91.pdf
>
> I am in the Green Bay, Wisconsin area which is on the border for zones 4 and 
> 5.  So far, the only problems I have had with them are a few cane borers.  
> Mine are quite productive.  My wife and I haven't used the flowers for 
> anything but love the berries for syrup and jelly.  Propagation by cuttings 
> in the spring has been pretty easy.
>
> Best of luck,
>
> Jim Elie
> Green Bay WI
> zone 4/5
>
> ---- Caren Kirk <quirky@videotron.ca> wrote: 
> > I just returned from a trip back home to the UK where I totally overdosed on 
> > Elderflower EVERYTHING (cordial, syrup, even eldeerflower cheesecake). I 
> > literally couldn't get enough, everywhere we went someone was getting me to 
> > taste their homemade products.
> >
> > I've always been a fan of elderberry juice, so now I am convinced that I want 
> > to try planting them here to see if I can reap the benefits of both the 
> > flowers and the berries.
> >
> > I thought I had an elder growing wild in the wet area at the back of my lot, which I 
> > had never really investigated much . It certainly has very similar flowers, however 
> > their scent seems nothing like that delicious fragrance of the flowers I've been 
> > enjoying in the UK. However I may have missed their peak at the beginning of the 
> > season. The shrub is about 6 to 7ft very "leggy" and growing in a very wet 
> > site under other taller trees. Not sure if it bears black berries but if so these don't 
> > seem to be very popular with the birds.
> >
> > Does anybody have experience with elders for their flowers or berries? Could 
> > you help me in identifying my plant? Could anyone suggest which elders might 
> > be good for flower and fruit production for zone 3/ 4 (for example is 
> > Sambucus Canadiensis OK)?
> >
> > Any advice gratefully appreciated.
> >
> > Caren Kirk
> > St. Jerome, QC