Elder

The black elder is native and gets through winter in the lowlands of Germany, Austria and Switzerland without any trouble and without protection. In late winter, before the buds break, you can cut it back hard to rejuvenate it and remove dead or crossing wood.

Hardwood cuttings (autumn/winter): The simplest and most reliable method. From October to February, cut pencil-thick, one-year-old shoots into sections about 20 cm long. Each cutting needs a node at the top and at the bottom; make the lower cut directly below a bud and the upper cut at a slant above one. Push the cuttings upright, three quarters of their length, into loose, free-draining soil, outdoors or in a pot in a sheltered spot. Keep the soil evenly moist. In spring, roots and new shoots develop; in autumn you can plant the young plants out in their final position.

Softwood cuttings (early summer): In June, cut shoot tips 10 to 15 cm long that are slightly woody at the base. Remove the lower leaves and any flower buds, leaving one or two pairs of leaves at the top. Insert the cuttings about one third of their length into moist seed compost, keep them evenly moist and place them in a bright spot, but out of strong sun. They will be rooted by early autumn.

Layering (spring/summer): Bend a long, flexible shoot sideways close to the ground, lightly wound the bark at the bend and cover this area with soil. Weigh the spot down with a stone. Once roots have formed after a few weeks, separate the layer from the mother shrub and plant it out. This method is worthwhile when no cutting material is available.

Sowing (autumn or after stratification): Suitable for the wild form; ornamental varieties cannot be propagated true to type this way. Take the seeds from ripe berries, wash off the pulp thoroughly and mix the seeds with slightly moist sand. Keep the mixture cool for at least 8 weeks (around 5 °C, e.g. in the fridge) for cold stratification; longer does no harm. Then sow shallowly in low-nutrient compost and place the pot in a bright, cool spot. Alternatively, you can sow directly outdoors in autumn; the seeds overwinter and germinate in spring. Germination is irregular and may take some patience.