These plants ship November through May from Pense Berry Farms in Mountainburg, Arkansas. Orders placed between May 21 and October 31 ship in November and December. Online orders of products from Pense Berry Farms require a $150.00 minimum. For smaller orders, please contact us.
12-18 inch bare root plant.
Bob Gordon Elderberry
Key Characteristics
Origin: 'Bob Gordon' is a cultivar of the American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) selected and introduced by **Jim Riddle** of **Blue Fruit Farm** in Winona, Minnesota. It was chosen for its early to mid-season ripening and its effectiveness as a pollinizer for other American Elderberry cultivars, particularly 'Wyldewood'. It is a named selection from wild, native elderberries.
Patent Status: 'Bob Gordon' Elderberry is **not patented** and is considered a public domain cultivar. It can be freely propagated and distributed. This is typical for selections from native species that are identified and propagated rather than being the result of a formal breeding program leading to patent protection.
Berry Production: Produces good yields of medium-sized, dark purple to black berries in clusters. While primarily valued as a pollinizer, it also produces a usable crop of berries. The flavor is typical of American Elderberries, becoming sweeter when cooked.
Ripening Time: 'Bob Gordon' is an early to mid-season ripening elderberry, typically maturing around the same time as or slightly before 'Wyldewood' in the Upper Midwest (late August to September).
Plant Size and Appearance: 'Bob Gordon' is a vigorous, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that can reach a mature height of 6 to 10 feet and a similar spread. It has large, pinnately compound leaves with toothed leaflets. Like other American Elderberries, it tends to sucker and can form colonies.
Flowers: Produces large, flat-topped clusters (corymbs) of small, fragrant, creamy-white flowers in early to mid-summer (June-July). Its bloom time overlaps well with other *Sambucus canadensis* varieties, making it an excellent pollinizer.
Hardiness: 'Bob Gordon' is very hardy, well-adapted to cold climates and typically hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8. Its native species origin contributes to its resilience.
Pollination: 'Bob Gordon' is a perfect-flowered (self-fertile) cultivar and is an excellent pollinizer for pistillate (female-flowered) varieties like 'Wyldewood'. Planting 'Bob Gordon' near other American Elderberries will improve their fruit set and yield.
Growing Conditions:
Sunlight: Prefers full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight) for optimal flowering and fruit production. It can tolerate some partial shade, but yields may be reduced.
Soil: Adaptable to a wide range of soil types, including clay, loam, and sand, but prefers moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. It can tolerate slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil.
Watering: Benefits from consistent moisture, especially during establishment, flowering, and fruit development. Mature plants have some drought tolerance but will produce better with regular watering.
Fertilizing: Benefits from a balanced fertilizer applied in early spring. Avoid excessive nitrogen.
Pruning: Should be pruned annually in late winter or early spring to remove old, unproductive wood (older than 3 years), as well as any dead, damaged, or crossing branches. Elderberries fruit best on younger wood.
Uses: The berries are used for:
Making jams, jellies, and preserves
Baking into pies and other desserts
Creating elderberry syrup
Primarily valued as a pollinizer for other American Elderberry varieties.
Wildlife Value: The flowers attract a wide variety of pollinators, and the berries are a significant food source for many bird species and other wildlife.
Ornamental Value: 'Bob Gordon' offers some ornamental interest with its large flower heads and foliage. Its role as a pollinizer may be its primary value in many plantings.
Disease and Pest Resistance: American Elderberries, including 'Bob Gordon', are generally considered relatively resistant to many common pests and diseases.
