Further Information

Planting distances are very much a matter of choice - for bare roots, 3 plants per metre is adequate, 5 is good, 7 in a double staggered row will give a dense hedge quicker. Generally, smaller plants should be planted at higher density. Cell grown should be planted at 4 per metre in a single row or ideally 6 per metre in a staggered row.

For more information on planting distances please see our planting density advice section.

Pruning Advice

Elder should be pruned in late Winter (February) to mid- Spring (April)

Delivery & Returns

Everything you need to know about your delivery: Free delivery - this is available on most orders when you reach a minimum order value for your packaging type which is based on the size and quantity of plants that you order. Details are in the delivery information table below.

Packaging Type	Standard Delivery Charge	Minimum Order Values for FREE Delivery
Boxes (Bare roots and pots up to and inc 7.5L)	£7.99 delivery charge (orders up to £60)	Orders of £60 and over - FREE
Pallets (Root balls, large pots 10L+, trees etc)	£60 delivery charge (orders up to £350)	Orders of £350 and over - FREE
Pleached Trees (Specialist Delivery)	£450 delivery charge (orders up to £1500)	Orders of £1500 and over - FREE

Nominated Day Delivery – Choose a day that suits you for your delivery. If nominated delivery is available on the products you’ve chosen, you’ll be able to select this option at checkout. Fees for this will depend on the product selected and your delivery address.

For full delivery information, including geographical exceptions, see our delivery page

Elder Hedge Sambucus nigra "Elderflower Bush"

From £1.49

In Stock

Elder is a native, deciduous, fast growing plant suitable for mixed hedging or single species.

FAST GROWING
HAS BERRIES
HAS FLOWERS (White)
Is Grazing Animal Friendly

Planting Conditions: Sunny, partial shade, moist to normal soil, sheltered or exposed, inland
Growth Rate: Average to Fast | 30-60cm
Height: 1-4m
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Elder Hedge Plants Description

Elder flowers in June and July with large flat heads of creamy white followed by elderberries which are small black fruits high in Vitamin C. It comes into leaf early (sometimes in January) and the leaves fall late in sheltered sites (November) and have 5 to 7 leaflets with slightly serated edges.

It's a good choice in rabbit prone areas because the little devils dont like the musky scent. Whilst the flowers and fruits are edible, the leaves and stems are harmful if eaten so take care to pick carefully.

Elder is also a UK native hedge and can be found with a combination of other UK native species in our Native Coastal Hedging Pack creating a beautiful mixed native hedge that is tolerant of coastal extremes and therefore ideal for coastal areas. For other individual species ideal for coastal areas see also our Hedging for Exposed Sites category.

What are root types?

Root types explained.

Bare root
Field grown, bare roots are young plants that are only planted when they are dormant, from autumn to spring. We lift bare root plants and despatch them during the season but they can be pre-ordered in summer. As they are cheaper to grow, they are one of our most affordable hedge planting options.
Pot grown
Pot grown plants can be planted year round and make a convenient option. They come in a wide range of sizes, from 10cm to 2.5m so they're suitable for the majority of planting requirements.
Root ball
Also field grown, root ball plants are scooped out of the ground using machinery to keep their root system intact and wrapped in bio-degradable, hessian sacks. They are mature plants that provide dense coverage very early on, ideal for when you need a thick hedge quickly.
Instant
Grown in troughs or bags that measure 50cm-1 metre in length and carefully clipped during the growing season. Our instant hedging troughs create a dramatic, instant hedge effect.