Scotia Elderberry:
Scotia elderberry (Sambucus canadensis ‘Scotia’) is a popular cultivar renowned for its cold hardiness, vigorous growth, and impressive fruit production. Originating in Nova Scotia, this variety was bred for superior adaptability and high yields, making it a favorite among growers in northern climates.
Scotia is one of my favorite elderberry cultivars. The berries are small but sweeter than most. It’s a stunning plant with incredible growth potential, capable of growing over 10 feet in a single season. It responds exceptionally well to heavy pruning and coppicing. I use a 2-year rotation: in the first year, I prune it flush to the ground. The following late winter, I coppice it to about 4 feet above the ground. This encourages an explosion of new growth with abundant flowers and berries. In the next late winter, I cut it back to the ground again.
Size: Typically grows 8–12 feet tall and wide, depending on growing conditions
Hardiness Zone: 3–9
Semi-indeterminate (In zone 5 we can get a primary and half-sized secondary fruiting)
Growing Conditions:
Light: Prefers full sun to partial shade
Soil: Tolerates a range of soil types but thrives in moist, well-drained soil with high organic matter
pH: Prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.5–7.0)
Water: Requires consistent moisture, especially during establishment and fruiting
**Standard Cuttings: Typically pinky- to thumb-thick and 6–14 inches long. These premium cuttings are ideal for reliable propagation. Their larger size allows direct planting into firm ground without tools.
**Bulk/Grade B Cuttings: A mix of larger and smaller cuttings, often with a single node. Cost-effective for establishing larger quantities, these are used for our own nursery stock propagation.
**Rooted Cuttings: Cuttings rooted in sterile soil, shipped in 2–3" paper pots/plugs. These grow quickly at this stage.
**First-Year Live Plants: Large, well-established first-year plants, typically in 3–4" deep pots. These plants, usually 1–2 feet tall, develop into large, semi-mature bushes by the next growing season.
Scotia Elderberry:
Scotia elderberry (Sambucus canadensis ‘Scotia’) is a popular cultivar renowned for its cold hardiness, vigorous growth, and impressive fruit production. Originating in Nova Scotia, this variety was bred for superior adaptability and high yields, making it a favorite among growers in northern climates.
Scotia is one of my favorite elderberry cultivars. The berries are small but sweeter than most. It’s a stunning plant with incredible growth potential, capable of growing over 10 feet in a single season. It responds exceptionally well to heavy pruning and coppicing. I use a 2-year rotation: in the first year, I prune it flush to the ground. The following late winter, I coppice it to about 4 feet above the ground. This encourages an explosion of new growth with abundant flowers and berries. In the next late winter, I cut it back to the ground again.
Size: Typically grows 8–12 feet tall and wide, depending on growing conditions
Hardiness Zone: 3–9
Semi-indeterminate (In zone 5 we can get a primary and half-sized secondary fruiting)
Growing Conditions:
Light: Prefers full sun to partial shade
Soil: Tolerates a range of soil types but thrives in moist, well-drained soil with high organic matter
pH: Prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.5–7.0)
Water: Requires consistent moisture, especially during establishment and fruiting
**Standard Cuttings: Typically pinky- to thumb-thick and 6–14 inches long. These premium cuttings are ideal for reliable propagation. Their larger size allows direct planting into firm ground without tools.
**Bulk/Grade B Cuttings: A mix of larger and smaller cuttings, often with a single node. Cost-effective for establishing larger quantities, these are used for our own nursery stock propagation.
**Rooted Cuttings: Cuttings rooted in sterile soil, shipped in 2–3" paper pots/plugs. These grow quickly at this stage.
**First-Year Live Plants: Large, well-established first-year plants, typically in 3–4" deep pots. These plants, usually 1–2 feet tall, develop into large, semi-mature bushes by the next growing season.
