In a message dated 97-02-03 20:59:21 EST, Jack Castro writes:

> I am an inexperienced gardener and
> am wondering if someone can tell me more about the Blue Elderberry plant.

Jack,

I, too, am replanting my backyard and making it into a backyard wildlife
sanctuary. Two interesting catalogs I received this winter are:

Raintree Nursery in Morton, WA (phone 360-496-6400, e-mail
raintreenursery at juno.com, fax 888-770-8358)

Bear Creek Nursery in Northport, WA (e-mail BearCreekin at plix.com, fax
509-732-4417)

>From Raintree's catalog:

Elderberries (Sambucus species) Elderberries are probably the easiest to grow
and care for of all the fruits and probably the most consistently productive.
The blossoms and berries have been used for centuries in cultures throughout
the world and many edible and medicinal purposes.
Using Elderberries
How to Grow: Shrubs prefer full sun but will tolerate some shade. They
prefer soil with good organic content and good drainage. They are prolific,
very heavy bearing and easy to grow. Suckers or shoots will easily root.
They make great informal deciduous hedges or accent plants.
In the Landscape: They make great informal deciduous hedges or accent
plants. The hollow stems have many uses including making flutes, popguns,
fences. The berries are used in dyes. Birds love them.
In the Kitchen: The magnificent June white flowers can make Elderflower
cordials or can be dipped in a pancake batter to make fritters. The fruit is
higher in vitamin C than oranges and prized for pies, jellies, tea and of
course wine, champagne or brandy. Teas are used in baths and for many herbal
treatments. Try elderberry jelly.
Eastern Elders Bred for Fruit Quality
(Sambucus canadensis) These varieties are hybrids of the eastern Elderberry
selected for sweeter, larger, tastier berries and a more compact ornamental
shrub. The large clusters of purple-black fruit ripen in August. Shrubs
will grow 6-10' tall. space about 8' apart. Hardy to USDA Zone 4. We offer
well rooted plants. The varieties are similar. Select both for pollination
YORK A productive variety with slightly larger, sweet purple berries.
JOHNS A vigorous growing variety with huge clusters of large purple-black
sweet berries.
BLUE ELDER (Sambucus caerulea) This NW native is beautiful in all seasons.
In the spring enjoy the many white flower clusters. In the fall the 15-20
foot spreading bush is covered with large clusters of small powder blue
berries that are prized for cooking, jelly and wine. Self fertile. USDA
Zones 5-8. 1 foot tall bush.

Bear Creek Nursery offers
NOVA ELDERBERRY (1st to ripen) (Sambucus canadensis) Introduced in 1959.
Originated in Kentville, Nova Scotia as an Adam seedling. Beautiful creamy
white flowers which produce large, purplish-black, sweet tasting fruit. Good
for jelly, wine, and pies. Gave the highest yield in the Ohio trial
comparisons. Ripens its fruit earlier than the York. Zone 4
YORK ELDERBERRY (2nd to ripen) (Sambucus canadensis) Introduced in 1964.
Large creamy white clusters of flowers in early summer. Juicy, sweet,
purplish black fruit is good for jam, jelly, juice, wine, and pies. Has the
largest berry of all varieties. Bears as early as the 2nd year. Vigorous
highly productive bush. Zone 4.
BLACK ELDERBERRY, SEEDLING (Sambucus nigra) Also known as the European
Elderberry. Beautiful 8" flat topped clusters of creamy white flowers bloom
from May to June. Produces large clusters of tasty shiny purplish black
berries. Excellent for jams, wine, pies, medicinal uses, and said, in its
leaves to be a blight cure for fruit trees. Native to Europe and Western
Asia. To ensure proper pollination, plant at least two. Pollinate with Nova
or York. Zone 5.
BLUE ELDERBERRY, SEEDING (Sambucus caerulea) Creamy white flat topped
clusters of flowers turn into juicy, edible, dark blue berries. Large
compounded leaves make this an ornamental shrub or tree (with training).
This very drought resistant variety is native in our area. Zone 4.
RED ELDERBERRY, SEEDLING (Sambucus racemosa) Native shrub to Europe and
Western Asia. Naturalized from Minnesota to the Northwest states. Large
clusters of cream colored flowers, giving way to vivid scarlet fruits.
Alluring to birds, and ripens in June. Plant two seedlings for proper
pollination. This berry must be ripe when eaten. Zone 3.

The National Audubon Society, The Bird Garden says: "American Elderberry
(Sambucus canadensis) A deciduous shrub that forms dense thickets. It has
large white flower clusters from early to late summer and its tiny
dark-purple fruits ripen from midsummer to early fall. Likes sun. Prefers
fertile, moist soil. Height: Young plants grow only a few inches in the
first year, but individual canes may grow as tall as 15 feet in subsequent
years. Fully hardy. Zones 4 - 9. Attracts at least 33 species to its
colorful fruit including the red-bellied and red-headed woodpecker, eastern
bluebird, and cardinal. The robin often eats the fruit before it is ripe."

Sorry this was so long, but I always want as much info as I can get before
ordering and planting. Our local Ranger Station also gives permission for
people to dig up a few plants (very small, however)---check out your closest
Ranger Station for the same service.

Maia Kelly
Selah, WA