Elderflower

Medicinal Favourite

Medicinal Favourite

Medicinal Favourite

Medicinal Favourite

Medicinal Favourite

Medicinal Favourite

Elderflower Cheesecake With Elderberries

Price

American elder for homemade elderflower cordial and cooked elderberry syrup and jam. It flowers and fruits without needing cold winters.

Add a Plant Label$11.50 Engraved aluminium ·

Quantity

In stock, ready to ship
Inventory on the way

Position Sun or part shade
Height 3 to 4m
Life cycle Perennial, loses its leaves in winter
Frost Frost hardy
Water Keep it moist
Grow in Pot or garden500mm+ pot

What do these mean?

Perennial: Lives for several years.
Sun or part shade: Happy in full sun, or with about half a day of sun.
Frost hardy: Handles regular frosts.
500mm+ pot: The smallest pot it's happy in long term. It grows just as well in the garden.

Harvest: Flower heads once fully open. Berry clusters once every berry is dark purple, cooked before eating.
Uses: Edible flowers, Cooking, Tea, Medicinal
Soil: Moist / well drained
Usually available: All year
Pets: Leaves and raw berries can upset dogs and cats; serious poisoning is rare (Pet Poison Helpline)
Botanical name: Sambucus canadensis

You'll receive 1 plant in a 50 x 75mm tube, grown here and certified organic. We can't send plants to WA, NT or TAS.

Plants dispatched Monday and Tuesday via Express Post

Our shipping costs are a flat rate, meaning you can add any amount of products to your order and you will pay the same.

Express Post - $12.95
Plants are sent via Express Post only.

Dispatch days: Monday and Tuesday only.

We can send plants to Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and ACT.

We cannot send plants to Western Australia, Northern Territory or Tasmania due to restrictions.

*Subject to actual conditions. Find out more on our Delivery information page.

We want you to be thrilled with your purchase from us. If you are not satisfied with an item and need to return it, we're here to help.

If you are unhappy with the quality of herb plants, they must be photographed on the day of receiving and emailed to us within 24 hours.

Find out more about our Returns & Refunds.

Customer reviews

Rated 4.99 out of 5 based on 214 customer reviews for Elderflower.

Rated 5 out of 5. My Elderflower Plant is growing well. I can highly recommend. If you are local to the area it's worthwhile going to Mudbrick Cottage to see and purchase in person. Thanks very much! Will buy again from you when I next need something. Take care and stay safe :) Paula Annesley , May 2026.

Rated 5 out of 5. Happy customer!. I bought a Elderflower plant and Rakkyo onion. Plants were packed very well and the delivery was quick. Happy with the purchase. Anonymous , September 2025.

Rated 5 out of 5. Elderflower seedling. I cannot review Mudbrick highly enough. I ordered 4 elderflower seedlings. They arrived in amazing condition, healthy and strong, still moist, not wilted at all like other companies i have gone through. Great size also. The instructions they came with were perfect, most companies don’t go to the extra effort. I have gifted 2 and replanted 2 for us and they are all thriving. Between your amazing range and extremely healthy plants and safe delivery, I will definitely be buying through you again. 10/10 Christy Rebesco , December 2024.

Rated 5 out of 5. Finally found Elderflower 😊. Discovered Mudbrick Herb Cottage whilst searching for Elderflower Plants - something I have not been able to finde anywhere else. I've received 2 in great condition and they are happily growing outside. Following information and communication was great and it feels lovely to support a local, family-run business Natali , August 2024.

Rated 5 out of 5. Excellent product and service. I recently purchased two elderflower plants from Mudbrick Herb Cottage. They arrived quickly and in excellent condition. I was impressed by the way they had been packaged for delivery. Mudbrick Herb Cottage made me feel a valued customer and I will definitely be buying plants from them again if I need to. Rita Bogna , March 2023.

Rated 5 out of 5. Elderflower. My Elderflower tube stock arrived healthy, in good time, well packaged and I planted following instructions provided. Within one month they have doubled, if not tripled in size and are going gang busters in my patch! Sharon , January 2023.

Rated 5 out of 5. Elderflower. Our elderflower came so carefully and professionally wrapped and looked strong and healthy. It has been 3 weeks since receiving it and it is growing strong and has tripled its size. We love Mudbrick Herb Cottages’ plant variety and quality of stock. Anonymous , March 2022.

Rated 5 out of 5. Amazing quality. The Elderflower plants that I purchased are doing really well. They came from Qld. to SA in only four days and arrived in great condition. I followed the planting instructions and they have tripled in size in only four weeks. I couldn’t be happier and will be looking to buy more plants in the future from this fabulous family business. Lorraine Agusi , December 2021.

Growing elderflower

Elder, elderflower and elderberry are all names for the same plant. Ours is the American elder, Sambucus canadensis, which flowers and fruits from South East Queensland to the cooler south. The European black elder needs a cold winter to set fruit and doesn't last in the subtropics. We grow ours from cuttings rather than seed, so each one is true to its parent.

Elders like rich soil that stays moist but drains. Dig in plenty of compost, mulch well and water through dry spells, as they don't handle drought. If yours drops its leaves in a hot spell, check the soil: elders like it slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6 to 7), so dig compost into alkaline soil and give the plant a seaweed solution through the heat.

It grows into a multi-stemmed shrub that suckers from the roots and forms a thicket if you let it. In the garden, choose its spot carefully and dig out unwanted suckers. In a pot, a half wine barrel is a good size and keeps it smaller, though it needs regular watering. Prune in winter while it's bare, taking out dead wood and stems three years or older and shortening the rest to keep it compact.

One plant fruits on its own, but a second elder nearby gives a bigger crop. In warm climates it flowers on and off for much of the year, mostly in spring and summer. Ours flowers and fruits two or three times a year, usually with one really good crop of berries. In cooler areas it flowers in late spring and summer, with berries from late summer. Birds love the berries and spread the seed, so if you live near bushland, pick them before the birds do.

Harvesting

Pick flower heads once they're fully open and use them the same day, as they spoil quickly. Shake out any insects rather than washing them. Leave plenty on the bush, because every head you pick is a bunch of berries you won't get.

The berries are ready when every one in the cluster has turned dark purple-black. Snip off whole clusters, then strip the berries from the stalks, which is much easier if you freeze the clusters first. Throw out any green berries and bits of stalk.

In the kitchen

The flowers make elderflower cordial: trim the heads off their thick stalks, steep them for a day in a warm syrup of sugar, water and lemon, then strain through muslin and bottle. Whole heads dipped in a light batter, fried and dusted with a little icing sugar make fritters, and dried flowers make a pleasant floral tea.

Cook the berries into syrups, jams, pies and sauces. For Sandra's elderberry syrup, simmer 200g of dried berries in 900ml of water for 30 to 40 minutes, mash and strain, then sweeten to taste. It's lovely over pancakes or as a cordial, and until your bush fruits, our dried elderberries make it any time of year. The berries don't set well on their own, so cook them with apple for jam.

Always cook the berries. The leaves, stems, bark, roots and green berries contain compounds that release cyanide, and even ripe berries can upset the stomach if eaten raw.

Traditional medicinal uses

American elder has a long history among Native American peoples. The Cherokee, Menominee and Pima drank a tea of the flowers during a fever, and the Delaware and Iroquois laid scraped bark on cuts and sores as a poultice. In Europe its cousin, the black elder, gives us the dried elderflower still used for tea. Little is known about elder's safety as a medicine in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

The story of elder

Push the soft pith out of an elder stem and you're left with a hollow tube, and Native Americans made popguns, whistles and even blowguns from them. The Iroquois mashed the berries into small cakes and dried them, the Cahuilla dyed basket materials black and purple with the berry juice, and the Meskwaki used the inner bark of young shoots to keep flies away.

Today it's a farm crop too, with university-bred varieties and more than 1,000 acres grown in the United States.

When your plants arrive

Follow these three steps so your herb plants survive and thrive.

Step 1
Unwrap
Remove any tape and unwrap your plants carefully. Pick off any yellow or damaged leaves.
Step 2
Soak
Sit the tubes in a container of water or weak seaweed solution until the air bubbles stop, then lift them out. Don't leave them sitting in water. We use our own Seaweed Boost.
Step 3
Plant
Plant them as soon as you can. If you can't yet, repeat step 2 every day and give them some sun until they're planted.

How we pack and send your plants

We water, wrap and tape every plant, then send them by Express Post on Mondays and Tuesdays.

More growing tips and videos

Planting it in the ground or a pot

In the ground

Choose a spot with free-draining soil and the right amount of sun for the plant. Digging in some compost helps.
Dig a hole a little bigger than the root ball, ease the plant out of its tube and cover the roots gently with soil.
Water it in well, then dig a finger in beside the plant to check the soil is wet right down.
Sprinkle an organic fertiliser around it, and mulch to hold in moisture and keep the weeds down.
Water every day for the first week, then twice a week. Once it's settled in, once a week is usually enough.

In a pot

Use a pot with plenty of drainage holes and a good organic potting mix.
Plant it the same way, then water it in well. Push a finger 5cm into the mix to check it's wet through.
Add an organic slow-release fertiliser on top. Even mixes with fertiliser added rarely have enough for long.
Water every day for the first week, then regularly: pots dry out much faster than garden beds.

In very hot or cold spells, a weak seaweed solution helps plants cope.

The information on this page is general information for educational purposes. It isn't medical advice.

PlantsPlantConditionPostageThanksCareDeliveryMudbrick cottageMudbrick herb cottageOrder

5 stars: 212 (99%)
4 stars: 2 (1%)
3 stars: 0 (0%)
2 stars: 0 (0%)
1 star: 0 (0%)

Thrilled and surprised how well this plant is doing; since I purchased it a few weeks ago, it's increased in size by at least 6 times! Someone told me the berries of this plant maybe as useful as the Hawthorn berries are, when it comes to matters of the heart. I'm hoping that's true, as imported Hawthorne berries are expensive. Although I personally know Hawthorn berries are extremely beneficial, and I'm thinking it may be a unique talent unto that plant.....😁

Happy healthy plant.

I was so glad I was able to find this online after struggling to source it locally. Very excited for the years of elder flowers and elder berries to come.

Excellent product and service

I recently purchased two elderflower plants from Mudbrick Herb Cottage. They arrived quickly and in excellent condition. I was impressed by the way they had been packaged for delivery. Mudbrick Herb Cottage made me feel a valued customer and I will definitely be buying plants from them again if I need to.

Amazing on all levels! All of my plants from herb cottage are thriving!

Amazing on all levels! All of my plants from herb cottage are thriving!

Fantastic

Fast,well packed,good quality Good prices and great communication My go to nursery

Great Quality plants

Plants arrived very quickly and were vibrant and healthy. They were packed extremely well and were wrapped in newspaper so the soil was still moist. I have potted them up and they have tripled in size in a few short weeks. I'm looking forward to planting them in the garden soon. Highly recommend and would buy from again!

Purchase of Elderberry plants

I received the plants promptly and in great condition. I followed the planting recommendations included in the package, and so far my plants seem healthy and growing were they were planted. I was pleased with the service overall,

Di Liddelow order

What does this sentence mean "using the item." It doesn't make sense to me. Do you mean ordering? I did find your service very good. Thanks. The plants arrived well & healthy.

*** SUPA HAPPY ***

My little treasure came very quickly and was packaged well. I emailed the store for further info and Sandra was very helpful. A funny note (not at the time) I re potted my little seedling right away, a few days later my naughty bird ate half of its leaves. Thankfully it has now double in size and you would never know, and it has only been 3 weeks. Happy happy Anita T

Beautiful plant babies

It was my first time ordering seedlings online and I was really hesitant but they arrived lovingly packaged, healthy seedlings and have been growing well so I'll definitely be getting more.

Elderberry

They grow quick! Need to repot. This is 4 months growth, ordered 2 one is flowering.

ELDERFLOWER

It is a strong healthy plant. I can't wait till it grows to a few metres. Thank you for your prompt delivery and especially thanks that you notify us when the plants come in. I was wondering if you sell good organic vegetable seeds or know where we can get the same. Serious times are coming upon us and it is wonderful that we have good friends.

Very pleased with my purchase.

Very pleased with my purchase. Plants arrived in pristine condition. I followed the detailed instructions provided for planting and care. Was also sent an excellent introductory email and follow up. Excellent customer service. A friendly business that really love what they do care about their customers . Highly recommended.

Perfect.

My little saping arrived in perfect condition, with a lot of helpful information to make sure I tended to it properly after it got here. Thank you for much such a great experience.

Simply amazing

Purchased my two elderflower plants few weeks ago. Extremely pleased with the service Mudbrick Herb Cottage provided. From delivery, the informative emails, the prompt responses, and helping me with an issue I had with Aus Post directly. For me, this goes a long way. Thank you Sandra and co.

Elderflower delight

I purchased two elderflower seedlings 6 months ago. They have they've and already have their first flower buds.

Attentive and personalised service

Really easy to deal with, responding to queries within a short timeframe and the response is personal . I was notified as soon as the product was back in stock and once purchased was delivered fast, the products are well wrapped and came with sufficient info to successfully grow the plant I’ve ordered. Easy to follow instructions, my elder flower plant grew 7cm in 2+ weeks super happy. Highly recommended products and service!

I received both plants and

I received both plants and very happy with them thank you so much

Really happy with my order! Plants arrived looking really healthy and transplanted well and seem to be thriving! Would happily purchase again!

Great plants. Definately will be a returning customer.

My little elder turned up in no time, beautifully packaged for the long trip to the NSW outback. It was a beautifully healthy plant, just about jumping out of its tube when it turned up, and more than doubled its size a few days after it was planted out (in winter). The planting video and instructions were much appreciated, too. Thank you!

Arrived safe and plant is so strong and healthy, thank you 💖

Great addition to my witches garden

This is the dearest little plant. I treated my children's coughs with elderberry rob in a place where these trees grew wild. You can use every part of an elderberry tree, including make champagne from the flowers. And a jar of elderberry jelly is a glorious thing in many ways but on a scone with whipped cream, mmmm

Elderflower

Elderflower

Customer reviews

Growing elderflower

Harvesting

In the kitchen

Traditional medicinal uses

The story of elder

When your plants arrive

Unwrap

Soak

Plant

How we pack and send your plants

Just so you know...