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berry shrub

Adams elderberry

Thrives in moist soil and fruits best with another elderberry.

Yield return 4-15 lb/plant/year
Zones 3b-8b
First output 2-3 yrs
Spacing 4-8 ft in-row x 10-12 ft rows
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Growing Profile

Hardiness
Zones 3b-8b
Sun
FullPartial
Soil
ClayLoam
Water
High
Deer pressure
Not rated No deer-resistance category is assigned yet; treat browsing risk as local and variable.
Black walnut
Better near black walnut Use as a black walnut / juglone planning cue; tolerance varies by cultivar, soil, and distance from the tree.
Planting depth
Set the crown or top of root ball level with the surrounding soil.
Container min
10+ gal (workable)
Goals
FruitPollinators & wildlifeCurb appeal & colorPrivacy & screeningNative plants

Harvest & Use

Window
berries ripen in late summer
Yield return
4-15 lb/plant/year
First output
2-3 yrs
Best for
FruitPollinators & wildlifeCurb appeal & colorPrivacy & screeningNative plants

Harvest window: berries ripen in late summer. Once established, the current pound-return model uses 4-15 lb/plant/year with a harvest window of 2-5 weeks.

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Plant photos

What it looks like in the garden

Use these photos to compare the plant's leaves, stems, flowers, fruit, and overall habit before you buy or plant.

Elderberry fruit clusters on leafy stems.
Plant photo Living elderberry stems with foliage and ripe fruit clusters.

Photos show a representative plant in the garden. Fruit color, size, and growth habit can vary by cultivar, season, nursery stock, and site.

Photo sources: Rison Thumboor / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Quantitative Profile

Pound return
4-15 lb/plant/year
10-year return
28-105 lb/10 yrs
Full output
4-6 yrs
Mature size
6-12 ft H x 6-10 ft W
Spacing
4-8 ft in-row x 10-12 ft rows
Planting depth
Set the crown or top of root ball level with the surrounding soil.
Container min
10+ gal (workable)
Productive life
10-20 yrs
Difficulty
2/5
Reliability
4/5
Data quality
Medium profile, Medium yield confidence

Pound return is the stock-style yield metric. These are planning ranges for comparing plants, not guarantees. Cultivar, rootstock, climate, soil, pruning, pest pressure, and wildlife can move actual results.

Planting Checklist

8 items

Plant by ZIP may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through checklist links.

  • Hose timer

    Watering / Install at planting

    Keep new plantings and containers from drying out during establishment.

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  • Right-size container with drainage

    Containers / Before planting

    Use a container large enough for mature roots, with open drainage holes to prevent root rot.

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  • Expanding container potting mix

    Containers / Before planting

    Use a lighter container medium instead of dense garden soil in pots and grow bags.

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  • Drip irrigation kit

    Watering / Install at planting

    Deliver steady root-zone moisture with less leaf wetness and less water loss.

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  • Fruit tree and berry fertilizer

    Nutrition / After establishment

    Support fruiting wood, bloom, and recovery after establishment once soil needs are known.

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  • Soil test kit or lab mailer

    Site prep / Before planting

    Check pH and baseline nutrients before adding amendments, especially for fruiting crops, native beds, and acid-loving plants.

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  • Digging spade or shovel

    Tools / Planting day

    Open planting holes, loosen compacted soil, and shape beds for larger transplants.

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  • Plant labels

    Planning / Planting day

    Track cultivar, planting date, and variety when comparing harvests or pollination partners.

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Yield curve

Estimated Pound Return

Projected annual yield ramp from establishment to full production, using the current sourced range for Adams elderberry.

Medium yield confidence
0 lb 3.8 lb 7.5 lb 11.3 lb 15 lb Source range Expected midpoint Y1 establishment Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 Y9 Y10
Year 1
0 lb
Establishment year: focus on roots before harvest.
Year 5
3.2-12 lb
Year 10
4-15 lb
10-year total
28-105 lb/10 yrs

Shaded band shows the sourced low-to-high pound-yield range. The line tracks the midpoint for quick comparison.

Method: direct pound yield from crop metric source. Annual crops assume one comparable planting per year; perennial crops ramp from first bearing to full production.

Planting Strategy

  • Planting depth: Set the crown or top of root ball level with the surrounding soil.
  • Container minimum: 10+ gal (workable). Use 10+ gal; larger containers stabilize moisture and yield.
  • Start with one plant when testing fit in a new bed or container.
  • Plant more than one when harvest volume or pollination is the main goal.
  • For screening, repeat compatible plants and confirm mature spacing before buying.
  • Use the pairing map below to choose nearby companions or compatible varieties.

Risk Factors

  • Match the site first: full, partial light, clay, loam soil, and high water.
  • Use 4-8 ft in-row x 10-12 ft rows as the first spacing model; adjust for hedges, trellises, containers, or local guidance.
  • Plan around mature size: 6-12 ft H x 6-10 ft W.
  • For harvest planning, treat "berries ripen in late summer" and 4-15 lb/plant/year as planning ranges, not guarantees.
  • Plan pollination or companion context before planting; nearby varieties can matter for fruit set.

Related Planning Guides

Planting calendar Use ZIP-based hardiness and frost context to plan seed-starting, direct-sow, transplanting, and nursery planting windows. Native plants Browse native-flagged plants that can support habitat, pollinators, edible landscapes, and lower-maintenance planting plans. Privacy shrubs Find plants for screening, edible hedges, visual buffers, and wildlife-friendly privacy by zone, water, soil, and mature size. Full sun clay soil plants Browse plants marked for both full sun and clay soil, including vegetables, perennials, shrubs, and practical landscape plants.

Comparable Plants

Plant Zones First output Yield (lbs) Difficulty Why it is a peer
Wyldewood elderberry 3b-8b 2-3 yrs 4-15 lb/plant/year 2/5 Same crop family or cultivar set; compare yield, spacing, and source availability. York elderberry 3a-8b 2-3 yrs 4-15 lb/plant/year 2/5 Same crop family or cultivar set; compare yield, spacing, and source availability. Black Lace elderberry 4a-8b 2-3 yrs 4-15 lb/plant/year 2/5 Same crop family or cultivar set; compare yield, spacing, and source availability. Carmine goumi berry 4b-8b 2-4 yrs 3-12 lb/plant/year 2/5 Same form with 4 overlapping goals.

Companion Plants & Pairings

Compatible Cultivars

Pollination High

Elderberries generally fruit better when more than one compatible cultivar flowers nearby, and they fit naturally as a moist-site edible hedge.

Use it: Plant two or more cultivars in the same moist edge or hedgerow, leaving room for suckers and harvest access.

Black Lace elderberryWyldewood elderberryYork elderberry

Sources & Methodology

This guide combines hardiness range, light, soil, water, harvest timing, traits, supplier links, plant relationships, and quantitative planning metrics. Pairings are screened for practical garden fit.

Quantitative values use extension and botanical-reference ranges where available. For less-studied cultivars, similar crops fill gaps conservatively. Ranges are intentionally broad so the profile stays useful without pretending to be exact.

Planning sources: Ohio State Extension - Elderberry Production in OhioStark Bro's - Harvesting Elderberry PlantsUniversity of Maryland Extension - Planting a Tree or ShrubUniversity of Maryland Extension - Starting a Home Fruit GardenUniversity of Maryland Extension - Types of Containers for Growing Vegetables

Supplier search: Stark Bro's. Search links are not paid placements unless explicitly marked; affiliate listings may earn a commission. Last reviewed: 2026-05-31.