Sambucus (canadensis)

Quicksand USDA NRCS - Quicksand Plant Materials Center 175 Robinson Road Quicksand, Kentucky 41363 http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov

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Family Scientific Name:	Caprifoliaceae
Family Common Name:	Honeysuckle
Scientific Name:	Sambucus canadensis
Common Name:	Elderberry
General Distribution:	Well-drained, moist, sunny or shady areas. Found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along creeks, mostly low, moist locations.
Propagation Goal:	seeds
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.)
Time To Grow:	0
Propagule Collection:	Collected in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Propagule Processing:	EASE OF COLLECTION: Collection was not difficult. Umbels were clipped from plants. TYPE OF MATERIAL COLLECTED FOR PROPAGATION: Berries. METHOD OF CLEANING: Berries were hand stripped from umbels. To remove seed from berries, berries were depulped using a food blender filled partially with water. The mixture was then hand screened. Empty seeds and debris were separated from viable seed by floating off in water. NUMBER OF SEEDS PER POUND: Approximately 231,550 (ibid.) PERCENT GERMINATION: Data not available at date of publication.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	PRETREATMENT USED: None. Action in the food blender may have mechanically scarified seed. Fall planting may also contribute to success because of cold stratification and seedcoat breakdown.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	PROPAGATION METHOD: Seed.
Establishment Phase:	METHOD OF GROWING: Seeds were planted 1/2-inch deep approximately 4 inches apart in a raised fumigated bed (methyl bromide) in November. Bare-root stock is optimum size after one growing season.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	SEED MATURITY DATE: June - September (Young & Young 1992, 313). STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: Seed was stored in cold storage (relative humidity less than 50%, temperature less than 50§F). Avoid excessive drying, store in sealed containers. ESTIMATED PROPAGULE STORAGE POTENTIAL: Several years.
References:	Young, James A., and Cheryl G. Young. 1992. Seeds of Woody Plants in North America. Portland, Oregon: Dioscorides Press.

Citation:

2001. Propagation protocol for production of Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.) Sambucus canadensis seeds USDA NRCS - Quicksand Plant Materials Center Quicksand, Kentucky. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/20). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.