When to Plant Elderberry in Cairns, Tropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Elderberry guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Days to harvest
- about 104 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
Elderberry is a fast-growing deciduous shrub to about 2-5m that bears white flower heads in spring and clusters of small dark purple berries in late summer.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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How to Grow Elderberry in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Rich, moist, organic-rich well-drained loam
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun to partial shade, at least 6 hours of direct sun a day
- Spacing
- 250-400cm apart, 300cm between rows
- Watering
- Moderate watering. Water regularly while establishing, especially in dry spells, and mulch because the roots are shallow.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Chives, Garlic, Comfrey, Currants
Tropical Growing Tips for Elderberry
Recommended Varieties
- Black Lace (Sambucus nigra, cutting-grown): Grows about 2 to 5 m, tolerates frost, likes full sun. Daleys says it needs two compatible plants, best with Black Beauty or Laced Up
Pests and problems for Elderberry in Tropical
Harvesting Elderberry
When ready: Whole berry clusters turn deep purple-black and soft, drooping heavy on the stem in late summer
How to harvest: Snip entire umbrella-like fruit clusters using sharp secateurs, then strip berries from stems before cooking
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Elderberry
When do you plant elderberry in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Aug
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jul to Sep
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
How do I know when Elderberry are ready to harvest?
Whole berry clusters turn deep purple-black and soft, drooping heavy on the stem in late summer
What are the best Elderberry varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Black Lace (Sambucus nigra, cutting-grown): Grows about 2 to 5 m, tolerates frost, likes full sun. Daleys says it needs two compatible plants, best with Black Beauty or Laced Up.
What grows well with Elderberry?
Good companion plants for Elderberry include: Nasturtium, Chives, Garlic, Comfrey, Currants.
Are elderberry salt tolerant?
No. Elderberry are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.