Rootballed Sambucus nigra

Elder Hedging

A fast-growing UK native deciduous hedge with fragrant creamy-white summer flowers and dark elderberries, ideal for wildlife-friendly, informal and mixed native boundaries.

Sambucus nigra, commonly known as Elder, is a vigorous native shrub that brings seasonal interest and excellent wildlife value to informal hedges and naturalistic boundaries. Fresh green foliage develops rapidly in spring, followed by broad clusters of fragrant creamy-white elderflowers in early summer.

The flowers are followed by clusters of dark purple-black elderberries in late summer and autumn, providing an important food source for birds. Its naturally bushy growth and ability to establish quickly make Elder particularly useful within mixed native hedging, wildlife gardens and larger rural planting schemes.

Why Choose Sambucus nigra?

• UK native hedging species

• Fast growing and quick to establish

• Fragrant creamy-white summer flowers

• Produces clusters of dark elderberries

• Excellent value for birds and pollinating insects

• Suitable for mixed native hedging

• Excellent for informal and naturalistic boundaries

• Provides interest across several seasons

Why Buy Rootballed Elder?

Rootballed Sambucus nigra is field-grown and lifted with a substantial ball of soil retained around its root system.

This allows larger, established Elder plants to be supplied where greater initial height, structure and seasonal impact are required, making them particularly useful for substantial boundaries and larger landscape planting schemes.

Available Sizes

Rootballed Elder is available in a range of heights, subject to seasonal nursery availability.

Larger plants provide greater immediate structure, while smaller sizes can offer an economical solution for longer boundaries and mixed native planting schemes.

How Many Plants Do I Need?

Plant spacing depends upon the size selected, whether Elder is being planted as a single-species hedge or as part of a mixed native hedge, and the density required.

Our hedging guide will help you calculate the appropriate number of plants for the length of your proposed hedge.

Supply & Professional Planting

We can supply rootballed Sambucus nigra for customers undertaking their own planting or provide a complete professional supply and planting service.

Kirman Design can undertake ground preparation, correct spacing and planting and provide establishment and aftercare guidance.

Important – Rootballed Plants Are Seasonal

Rootballed Elder is supplied according to seasonal nursery availability and suitable lifting and planting conditions.

For larger quantities or particular sizes, early ordering is recommended.

Delivery, Access & Planting

Rootballed hedging can be large and heavy, particularly at the larger sizes. Before ordering, it is important to consider delivery access, the route to the planting position and how the plants will be handled and planted.

Read our Guide to Hedge Delivery, Access & Planting

We can install any hedge in all of the following postcodes;

BB, BL, CH1 - CH5, CW8, CW9, FY, L, LA1 - LA6, M, OL, PR, SK1 - SK12, WA, & WN. Please do not purchase if you want the hedging installed outside this area. If you do live outside the area, then please give us a call on 01942 604976 and we can see if it’s possible to do this.