Elderberry 'Marge'
Sambucus canadensis 'Marge' · Adoxaceae
| Type | shrub (shrub layer) |
|---|---|
| Mature size | 10 ft tall × 10 ft wide |
| Sun | FS, PS (full sun to part shade) |
| Water | M (moderate) |
| Deer resistance | medium |
| Drought tolerance | low |
| Hardiness | 3-9 |
| Maintenance | low |
| Edible | yes |
| Nitrogen fixing | no |
| Bloom | Jun, Jul |
| Harvest | Aug, Sep |
| Expected yield | 12 lb/yr |
| Source | TreeYo ($19) |
Planning price
$19.00 per plant listed
treeyo · Elderberry - Marge
On the CPI 2026 list. Cross-pollinate with Adams.
Design notes
Second elderberry cultivar. Elderberries will not set a useful crop without a different cultivar nearby, so this is planted with 'Adams'.
Historic uses
Elderberry has been a staple American food and medicine plant for centuries; 'Marge' is a named cultivar grown mainly as a pollinizer.
Scoring
| Ornamental | 7/10 |
|---|---|
| Disease resistance | 6/10 |
| Sweetness of harvest | 5/10 |
| Complexity of care | 7/10 |
| Medicinal value | 8/10 |
Shared plant library
These records are stored once at /home/chris/.gardenway/plant-library.json and
reused by every design and project on this machine, so the same species does not have
to be researched again.
Where this is used
| Draft | Zone | Qty | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draft 1 - Balanced Food Forest | F | 1 | Elderberry 'Marge' - the second cultivar. A lone elderberry sets very little fruit. |
| Draft 2 - Deer-Proof Berries and Kitchen Herbs | F | 1 | Elderberry 'Marge' - the second cultivar that makes the thicket crop. |
| Draft 3 - Native Woodland Garden | C | 1 | Elderberry 'Marge' - the second cultivar the porch pair needs. |
| Draft 3 - Native Woodland Garden | F | 1 | Elderberry 'Marge' - the second cultivar for the understory pair. |