Nova Elderberry

❇︎ ❇︎ Pre-Ordering is OPEN! ❇︎ ❇︎

❇︎ Cuttings begin shipping in Early Spring 2025.

❇︎ Seedlings begin shipping in Late Spring 2025.

Native to North America, Nova is an easy-care addition to your edible landscape, growing 5-6 tall and wide. It's a great choice for smaller urban gardens. Wide clusters of creamy white flowers appear in June that develop into reliable yield of medium-sized deep purple berries. Ripens uniformly a little before York in August. 

The fruit is sweeter than other varieties and a great source of vitamin C, making wonderful pie, juice, jelly and wine. Vigorous and hardy plants produce showy, fragrant white flowers in summer and colorful fall foliage. One of the easiest berries to grow. A vibrant bush in the garden that is a food source for pollinators and hummingbirds. 

Sambucus canadensis, Nova Elderberry is from Canada Agriculture Research Station, Kentville, Nova Scotia, 1959. Resents root disturbance. Cross pollinize with another S. canadensis variety, like York, for abundant fruit production.

These are seedlings and cuttings from our elderberry bushes where we harvest and sell the certified organic flowers and berries. We have been growing certified organic Nova elderberries for five years with excellent results. Typically, bushes remain around 6 feet tall and wide; when densely planted, they will grow up to 10 feet tall. Suckers easily.

USDA Zone: 3 - 9 hardiness, prefers cooler climates

Grow Height:  5 - 6', but can grow taller when densely planted

Sun: Full Sun, does well with some shade

Ripening Time: Late Summer

Pollination: Self-fertile, yields increase with a second variety, such as York

Years to Fruit: 2 to 3 years (seedlings to canes); fruiting on 2nd year seedlings or 3rd year canes in zones 3 and 4.

Soil Type: Tolerates a wide variety, best in soils rich in organic matter & well-draining

Moisture Requirements: needs consistently moist soil, not wet, for two growing seasons. Do not allow soil to dry out in the first growing season. Very drought-tolerant once properly established. 

Best Time to Plant: Spring and Fall. Summer planting is possible but watering requirements are more demanding. Best time to plant in most climates is Fall, followed by early Spring.

Mulch: important for all seasons, mulch deeply immediately after planting to protect young roots and retain hydrated soils.