AMERICAN ELDERBERRY. The American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is a deciduous shrub that is native to North America. Each spring the plant is covered with clusters of tiny white flowers that are followed by purplish-black fruit. The flowers and fruit have applications in alternative medicine. You can plant elderberry if your garden is in ?zones 3 to 10. It is native to eastern North America. This elderberry is 10 to 15 feet tall and wide, growing into a rounded shape. Elderberry shrubs need full sun to partial sun. Some American Native Wildflower seeds need to go through a cold winter to germinate. This plant is one of them. They do this so the seed won’t sprout in fall, only to have the seedling not make it through a cold winter. I keep these seeds at 40F to simulate a cold winter(stratification) This raises the germination rate considerably. Thanks for looking!! Sambucus canadensis. Perennial. Full sun / Part sun. Spring, soil temp 65F+. Soak seeds for 24 - 48 hrs. SOW - 3 seeds per, 1/4"deep. Keep moist. Germination is slow. 21-60 Days. Thin to single best seedling. Use scissors to cut out unwanted sprouts. Medium water. Light fertilizer after established. Height 10 -15 ft x 10 -15 ft wide. Flowers are white clusters. Blooms June, July, August.