If you’re a huge elderberry fan but don’t have a big backyard to call your own, don’t worry—you don’t have to miss out on the harvest! Believe it or not, certain varieties do perfectly well in containers, meaning you can easily grow elderberries right on your balcony. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to make container-grown elderberries a success and what you need to get started.
The Best Compact Varieties for Pots
Standard Black Elderberry can reach heights of 15 feet and spread nearly as wide, which is definitely a no-go for a balcony. Luckily, there are dwarf and slow-growing varieties that are much more manageable. Here are a few of my favorite picks for container gardening:
- “Plumosa Aurea” (Red Elderberry): This beauty tops out at about eight feet and produces stunning, bright red berries.
- “Black Tower” (Columnar Elderberry): This one grows upright like a pillar, featuring gorgeous dark purple foliage and violet-black berries.
- “Aurea” (Canadian Golden Elderberry): A lovely choice that stays around eight feet tall.
- “Sutherland Gold”: Known for its feathery yellow leaves and contrasting red fruit.
Choosing the Right Pot
A standard little flower pot isn’t going to cut it here. To keep your elderberry happy, you’ll want a large container or planter with a capacity of at least 10 gallons (about 40 liters). The good news is that as long as you stay on top of regular pruning, you can keep these woody shrubs looking great and fitting perfectly in their space.
Planting and Caring for Your Potted Elderberry
When it comes to placement, elderberries are pretty flexible—they thrive in full sun but are also perfectly happy in partial shade. For the best results, use a loose, nutrient-rich potting mix. I highly recommend mixing in a little compost to give it an extra boost.
Crucial tip: Make sure your pot has good drainage holes and maybe a layer of gravel at the bottom to prevent “wet feet” (root rot). That said, elderberries love moisture, so keep the soil consistently damp and feed them regularly with a good liquid fertilizer during the growing season.