Bob Gordon Elderberry
Planting from small 2.5 inch pots into the ground:
- Pick a sunny spot with well drained soil. Space plants about 6 to 10 feet apart.
- Water the pot first.
- Dig a hole about twice as wide as the pot, and about the same depth.
- Slide the plant out. If roots are wrapped around, gently loosen them.
- Set the plant in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the ground. Fill the hole back in with the same soil.
- Water slowly and thoroughly.
- Add 2 to 3 inches of mulch, but keep mulch a couple inches away from the stems.
- For the next 2 to 3 weeks, keep the soil lightly moist. After that, water deeply about once a week if it is not raining.
Description
Bob Gordon elderberry is a vigorous American elderberry variety grown for large berry clusters and strong, consistent production. It’s a multi-stem shrub that fills out quickly and is commonly planted in rows for home use or small-scale production. The berries ripen in late summer, turning deep purple to nearly black when ready. Elderberries are usually cooked rather than eaten raw, and they’re most often used for syrup, jelly, wine, juice, and freezing.
Elderberry plants like full sun for the best yields, but they can handle partial shade. They prefer soil that stays evenly moist, and they tolerate heavier ground better than many fruit shrubs, as long as it does not stay waterlogged. Pruning is straightforward: remove older canes to encourage new growth, since elderberries fruit best on newer wood. Bob Gordon is typically more productive when planted near another elderberry variety for cross-pollination.
Quick facts
- Plant type: Deciduous fruiting shrub
- Mature size: Often around 6 to 10 feet tall and wide
- USDA zones: Commonly grown in Zones 3 to 9
- Pollination: Not reliably self-fertile, plant with another elderberry variety for best yields
- Harvest window: Late summer
- Fruit: Dark purple to black clusters
- Best uses: Syrup, jelly, juice, wine, freezing
