Knowledgebase

Elderberry Issue #838646

Asked July 02, 2023, 11:54 AM EDT

Good morning! This is our second year with elderberry plants. Both years the leaves are curling. I am unsure what is going on. We also get no fruit. Ugh. I appreciate any insight. I've tried to google it, but don't find anything helpful.

Anne Arundel County Maryland

Expert Response

We are not sure what is causing the curling and distortion on the leaves of your Elderberry (Sambucus). 
  • Have there been any chemical applications nearby that may have inadvertently drifted/contacted the plant?
  • How/when are they watered? (Mulch should be no deeper than a couple of inches and kept pulled back from the base of the plant.)
  • Do you know the variety?
We tend to think that it is young yet to bear fruit.
Let us know your thoughts and we'll keep thinking.
In the meantime, here are two good pages to review to look for clues and learn more: 
https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2020/08/what-best-way-grow-elderberries#:~:text=To%20get%20the%20most%20flowers,through%20the%20first%20growing%20season.

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=278942&isprofile=1&basic=Sambucus%20canadensis


Christine
Answered by theHome and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 05, 2023, 11:19 AM EDT

THANK YOU SO MUCH for this input!   I greatly appreciate it and will look into it further based on your response.

 


Have a great week!

 


Donna 

The Question Asker Replied July 05, 2023, 11:21 AM EDT

Hi Donna, to add on to Christine's information, we think that if you were to cut off the leaves with symptoms and if more pop put, the plant should recover. Elderberry are such fast growers and can put out new growth quickly.  (Personally I prune my back hard to a couple feet most years and they still grow to about 12-15 feet high in the season.)

If you do prune it back and it is still showing strange growth then feel free to send us additional photos. 

Emily

Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 06, 2023, 2:01 PM EDT

Thank you so much!  We will try this.  My friend also has an elderberry bush and this thing is humongous!!!   I am so jealous.  I want to start making syrup, but my little guy needs to perk up. 

 


Thank you both for your input!!!

 


Donna 

The Question Asker Replied July 06, 2023, 2:08 PM EDT

Most likely next year you will have an abundance of fruit! - Just wondering do you only have 1 plant? Usually you need 2 different varieties of the same genus to get good fruit production.

Emily

Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 06, 2023, 4:22 PM EDT

Thanks for responding Emily!  We have two plants.  Both of which are having this issue.  Ugh.

 


Donna 

The Question Asker Replied July 10, 2023, 8:07 AM EDT

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