The elderberry, Sambucus canadensis, is an attractive native Midwestern shrub that produces an edible berry. The fruit has traditionally been used to make jams, jellies, syrups, and wines on a non-commercial scale. Recently, a commercial winery in Kansas has begun producing high-quality award-winning elderberry wines that are competing favorably with California grape wines. Other wineries in Missouri and Arkansas are also producing and selling elderberry wines as quality, interest, and sales continue to increase. Locally-made commercial elderberry jellies sell very well in Missouri, and the demand for elderberry juice concentrates to be taken as a health tonic is rapidly increasing. While the demand for elderberry fruit is thus increasing, very few elderberries are presently under managed cultivation in the Midwest. Furthermore, the quality of wild-harvested fruit is often poor and inconsistent compared to what could be raised domestically.

The elderberry has been studied only marginally over the years with a few improved cultivars introduced from southeast Canada and New York many decades ago. We are not aware of any other significant research on the cultivation of elderberries underway at this time. With the development of this renewed and increasing demand for elderberries, some renewed horticultural research is needed.

In 1999, the Southwest Center, along with the State Fruit Experiment Station of Southwest Missouri State University began developing a collection of improved elderberry cultivars. We obtained plants of most of the previously-named cultivars and initiated a search for new high-quality elderberry germplasm either growing domestically or in the wild in Missouri. We presently have more than 50 selections (Table 1) under cultivation and evaluation at both locations and continue to search for superior germplasm.

Pruning Management Study

In 2000, we initiated a pruning management study at both locations, and by 2001, our plantings for this experiment were complete. Three cultivars (Adams #2, Netzer, and Gordon B) are being evaluated to determine the most economical method of pruning management. The easiest and least costly pruning management technique might be to simply cut the plants to the ground each winter. The plants would likely flower and fruit each summer, but the harvest may not be as large as with a much more labor-intensive selective pruning system where only the old wood is removed each winter. Our four experimental treatments include 1) pruning plants to the ground annually, 2) pruning to the ground every other year, 3) selective removal of two- or three-year-old wood, and 4) unpruned control. Four replications of each treatment were established with three plants per plot. Plants are four feet apart with ten feet between rows, and eight feet between plots within a row. Total number of plants per site is 144. Yields will be determined each summer for six or more years. A variety of other horticultural and economic data will be collected from the plots as appropriate. In August, 2004, we are completing our second harvest from this study.

Elderberry Cultivar Evaluation

In 2003, a significant new experiment was established at both Mt. Vernon and Mountain Grove to evaluate 12 elderberry cultivars under southwest Missouri conditions. Some of our new Midwestern cultivars are also being evaluated by the USDA in Corvallis, OR. Cuttings of 12 selected elderberry cultivars were rooted and planted May 27, 28, and June 30, 2003 at Mt. Vernon and May 23 at Mountain Grove. The 12 selections include two established cultivars (Adams #2 and Johns) and ten new Midwestern selections (Brush Hills #1, Competition 5, Eridu 1, Gordon B, Gordon E, Harris 4, Highway O, Netzer, Votra, and Walleye). The experiment is set up as a completely randomized design. Each cultivar is replicated four times with four plants per replication. Plants are four feet apart with eight feet between plots and ten feet between rows (twelve feet between rows at Mountain Grove). Each site has 192 plants in the study. Horticultural data on growth, vigor, hardiness, cane production, and disease and insect susceptibility will be collected, along with fruiting characteristics such as panicle size and number, berry size and number, fruit quality, flavor, color, skin characteristics, and ripening period. In the laboratory, juice quality and enological characteristics of each cultivar will be evaluated in terms of pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, Brix, and other traits. Aspects of post-harvest handling and physiology pertinent to the processing industry may also be investigated. We conducted our first harvest from this study in August, 2004.

Elderberry Germplasm Collection

In 2004, we re-propagated and re-established all 50 of our elderberry selections (Table 1) in non-replicated two-plant plots at both locations. This planting will preserve our elderberry germplasm over the next few years while allowing us to continue preliminary evaluations of this diverse material.

Table 1.

The 50 Elderberry Selections under Cultivation at Mt. Vernon and Mountain Grove, MO, 2003.