elder after flowering

[AnnettStudent]

I have only one elder plant and it does NOT produce berries. After it flowers (mid July), is the plant putting its energy back into the leaves or the root? Are the leaves still potent medicine to harvest after the plant has flowered?

[mantheymw@hotmail.comStudent]

Hi Annett,

I have elderberries and one plant I got, just for the purpose of cross-pollination, is an ornamental elder. It flowers but does not produce berries. Do you know what type of elderberry plant you have? Is it possible it is an ornamental variety?

If you know for certain that your plant is a berry-producing variety, perhaps increasing the amount of water available to the plant at the end of the flowering period would help with fruit production. We have almond trees. They produce fruit (nuts) but not much and many are shriveled. I recently discovered that is most likely because we do not water them. They require a lot of water to fruit heavily. Applying that to your elderberry question, I water my elderberries regularly and have good harvests. Making sure you add compost each year may also help if they are “hungry”.

Having the means to make our own elderberry syrup is really gratifying. I wish you well in getting a fruitful harvest in the future!

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Annett

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Thanks. Mine is Sambucus nigra and needs another plant to berry. I’m wondering if the leaves are potent medicine after the plant flowers (since there are no berries coming on). I don’t know if the plant is putting energy in the root or the leaves or what at that point.

 

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

The leaves are still good after flowering.

Many elders need a buddy to make fruit. Others are ornamental hybrids and never do.

 

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

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Annett

[Greg BoggsStudent]

I know this is an old post, but when you say they need a buddy, do you mean that they need a second elder to really produce the berries?

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Yup. Some species of tree don’t self pollinate well and need a second plant for pollination.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

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Greg Boggs

[Author]

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