Elderberry - 'Marge' - 1 Yr Old Starter Plant

'Marge' is the only American-European hybrid elderberry (Sambucus canadensis x Sambucus nigra) in existence. As such, it has characteristics of both subspecies, with the flavor and appearance of the American elders & the large berry size and yield of the European elders.

As a hybrid, it will cross-pollinate both S. canadensis and S. nigra subspecies, so it is incredibly useful to have as a pollinator in plots that include both elderberry subspecies.

A vigorous grower, it will outyield every other elderberry bush in your plot. In fact, in a 3-yr, multi-site Missouri field study, ‘Marge’ significantly out-yielded all other elderberry genotypes, in most cases by two to three times the amount of fruit. The plant will grow to 8 - 12 feet tall and wide at maturity, but can be pruned to stay shorter/smaller if desired.

One of the most outstanding characteristics of 'Marge' is its near-complete resistance to Eriophyid mites- which are a serious issue that many elderberry growers experience that can be very detrimental to production and overall plant health.

*Plant Specifications*

-Plant Format: 1-Yr Old Starer Plant in 3.5" Pot -Self-Fertile: Yes, however yields may be improved by planting within 50 ft of another variety -Years to Fruit: 1 - 2 -Growing Zones: 3 - 10 -Growing Site: Full Sun (recommended), Partial Shade, Shade -Soil Type: Any, but does best in soils rich in organic matter & well-draining -Moisture Requirements: needs lots of moisture in the first 2 growing seasons. Do not allow soil around plant to get "bone dry" in the first growing season. Very drought-tolerant once properly established. -Best Time to Plant: Fall, Winter, Spring. Summer planting is also possible but watering requirements will dramatically increase. Absolute best time to plant in most climates is Fall & Winter, followed by early Spring. For all seasons, be sure to mulch well immediately after planting to protect young roots.

*PLEASE NOTE: It is November...plants are currently DORMANT- they will arrive with no leaves. They are NOT DEAD...plant them and mulch well. They will wake up in Spring just fine.