Heavy clusters of ripe Ranch elderberries on the shrub

Ranch Elderberry (Bundle of 2)

$59.99

Reliable shipping

Flexible returns

Pollination Partly self-fertile

Bloom group 4 of 7 (Mid)

See trees that will pollenize it

Ripening

Will it finish before your first hard freeze?

Check it on the Ripening Map (opens in a new tab)

At a glance: Ranch Elderberry is an elderberry shrub rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), and partially self-fertile, so a second variety nearby makes crops more dependable.

Hardy to	Zone 3 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 3, colder half included (winters to -40°F). Find your zone with our cold hardiness calculator.
Pollination	Partially Self-Fertile. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), early summer here. Ranch sets some fruit alone, but plant a different elderberry such as Adams nearby for a better crop. Two Ranch plants are the same clone. Elderberries bloom in early summer, long after apples and plums. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: Adam's Elderberry (Bundle of 2), Elderberry, American (Bundle of 3), John's Elderberry (Bundle of 2). Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. Pollination Charts.
Good for	Juice and sweet cider (8/10), feeding wildlife (8/10), sauce and butter (8/10), jams and jellies (7/10), wine (7/10), pies and baking (6/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.
Deer	Sometimes damaged by deer.
What you get	Bare root, 1-2 ft or 2-3 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.

Overview

Ranch produces larger elderberries with more vigor. The fruit ripens about two weeks later than Adams, which should be planted nearby for best pollination—though North American Black Elderberry can also do the job.

Easy to Grow, Beautiful in Bloom

This variety requires very little maintenance. In spring, giant clusters of white flowers bloom, turning into soft, nearly black berries by late summer. Both the elderflowers and the ripe elderberries are edible.

Cold Hardy & Productive

Ranch ripens near the end of August and is reliably cold-hardy—great for northern growers. Hardy to Zone 3.

Current Size & Root Health

These shrubs are available in two sizes, 1–2 feet tall and 2-3 ft. tall. These are potted transplants (not field grown), so they come with lots of fine root hairs and are ready to thrive.

Questions we get about Ranch Elderberry

Does Ranch Elderberry need a pollenizer?

It helps. Ranch Elderberry is partially self-fertile, so it can set some fruit alone, but a second variety nearby makes crops more dependable. Ranch sets some fruit alone, but plant a different elderberry such as Adams nearby for a better crop. Two Ranch plants are the same clone. Elderberries bloom in early summer, long after apples and plums. Partners we carry include Adam's Elderberry (Bundle of 2), Elderberry, American (Bundle of 3), John's Elderberry (Bundle of 2).

How cold hardy is Ranch Elderberry?

We rate Ranch Elderberry hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.

What is Ranch Elderberry good for?

Our top use scores for Ranch Elderberry are juice and sweet cider (8/10), feeding wildlife (8/10), sauce and butter (8/10), jams and jellies (7/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.

Will deer eat Ranch Elderberry?

Sometimes. Deer browse Ranch Elderberry now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.

What arrives, and when does Ranch Elderberry ship?

A dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 1-2 ft or 2-3 ft. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.

Pollination partners

Partners for a bigger Ranch Elderberry crop

Ranch Elderberry sets some fruit on its own, but a lot more with a partner. Every tree below blooms at the same time and has pollen that works for it.

Bloom group 4 of 7 (Mid)

Pollination Partly self-fertile

Pollen Good pollenizer

3 trees we carry will pollenize it. 3 in stock now.