Not sure I qualify as an expert, but I’m definitely a fan.
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Yay! This means you can answer my questions! So you have one bush? How much room does it take up? Do elder bushes tend to spread on their own? My neighbor said she had them all over her back yard ... I’m assuming she was properly identifying the elder bushes. Do they like full sun or will they grow in shade & how about dirt quality?
If I did grow a bush, it would have to be somewhere I could keep the deer off of it ... not sure I want it out in the raised bed area. I would like to grow my own, but it all depends if I can find a suitable spot.
At a previous house I had one bush that was a named variety I planted when I was 14. On my farm now I have a few wild ones, but I’m hoping to get a lot more established, both wild and named. At least 2 of the wild ones got hit by herbicide from the neighboring property. They survived but haven’t produced since.
The branches tend to sag outward a lot, so even one bush can take up a lot of space. On the other hand, they don’t seem to mind being a bit crowded. I suggest planting them 6-8 feet apart so you can reach between them.
They produce best with full sun. They don’t seem to mind a bit of shade, but the difference in productivity is pretty drastic. They also tolerate a fairly wide range of soil types. Around here they’re common in medians and roadsides.
If you’re looking at named varieties, I’d recommend looking at ones bred for production. Especially look for one that has clusters that ripen all at once. It’s annoying to have clusters that are ripe, over-ripe, and under-ripe, all mixed together.