Bob Gordon Elderberry

Commercial orders: Looking to order over 200 cuttings? Reach out to us about special bulk pricing at shop@farmoncentral.com.

Bring the exceptional Bob Gordon Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis ‘Bob Gordon’) to your garden or commercial planting, one of the most celebrated American elderberry varieties for its outstanding berry size, superior flavor, and remarkable productivity. Discovered in the wild in Osceola, Missouri in 1999 by grower Bob Gordon, this cultivar has quickly risen to the top as a favorite among home gardeners, homesteaders, and commercial producers. With its large, sweet berries, vigorous growth, and ornamental appeal, Bob Gordon is a must have variety for anyone seeking a hardy, high performing elderberry shrub.

Why Choose Bob Gordon Elderberry?

• Larger, Sweeter Berries: Produces berries up to one quarter inch in diameter with exceptional sweetness and flavor.
• High Yield Potential: Bears large, evenly ripening clusters perfect for single pass harvesting.
• Natural Bird Resistance: Unique downward hanging clusters make berries less accessible to birds.
• Low Maintenance: Fruits heavily on new canes, allowing for simple annual pruning or full cut back for primocane production.
• Hardy and Adaptable: Thrives in Zones 4 through 8 and performs well in varied soils and conditions.
• Versatile Use: Ideal for syrups, jams, jellies, wines, juices, and fresh culinary applications.
• Ornamental Beauty: Creamy white flower clusters and lush summer foliage add elegance to any landscape.

Exceptional Berry Size and Flavor

The Bob Gordon Elderberry is renowned for producing berries significantly larger than most other elderberry varieties, often reaching up to one quarter inch in diameter. These dark purple black berries are not only substantial in size but also notably sweeter and richer in flavor. This makes them ideal for crafting high quality elderberry syrups, jams, jellies, pies, juices, and wines. With more than four times the antioxidant value of many standard varieties, Bob Gordon berries offer both exceptional taste and impressive nutritional benefits. Whether for culinary artistry or home wellness preparations, this variety stands in a class of its own.

High Yields and Easy Harvesting

Bob Gordon is one of the most productive elderberry varieties available, producing large, uniform clusters that ripen evenly for efficient harvesting. Its distinctive downward facing clusters naturally deter birds, protecting your crop without additional intervention. Because Bob Gordon fruits on new first year wood (primocanes), growers can prune annually or even mow plants to the ground each winter. In longer season climates, plants regrow vigorously to reach five to six feet tall and produce abundant harvests. This trait has made Bob Gordon the preferred choice for commercial juice and syrup production.

Vigorous Growth and Resilience

This vigorous shrub grows six to eight feet tall and wide, creating a substantial presence in the landscape. Hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 8, Bob Gordon adapts easily to varied soils and light conditions, thriving in full sun but also tolerating partial shade. It shows resilience against several common pests, including some resistance to Japanese beetles. Beginning with fragrant white flower clusters in spring and culminating in heavy berry production by mid to late July, Bob Gordon offers beauty, productivity, and reliability throughout the growing season.

Perfect for Home and Commercial Use

Bob Gordon excels in both backyard orchard settings and large scale commercial plantings. Home gardeners appreciate its ornamental charm, ease of care, and dependable yields, while commercial growers value its uniform ripening, large berry size, and suitability for mechanical or single pass harvesting. Pairing Bob Gordon with another American elderberry variety such as Wyldewood enhances cross pollination and maximizes yield potential. Whether you are producing syrup, wine, juice, or value added products, Bob Gordon is a proven performer trusted by growers nationwide.

Medicinal and Nutritional Benefits

Bob Gordon elderberries are rich in anthocyanins, flavonoids, vitamin C, vitamin A, and immune supporting antioxidants. Known for their deeply pigmented skins and potent antiviral compounds, elderberries have long been used in herbal traditions to support respiratory health, strengthen the immune system, and provide seasonal wellness benefits. Bob Gordon’s large clusters and high antioxidant content make it especially well suited for medicinal syrups, tinctures, teas, and homemade remedies, providing both nutrition and traditional wellness support.

Planting and Growing Instructions

1. Preparing the Cuttings: Place cuttings in water or moist soil immediately upon arrival. They may be rooted indoors or planted directly outdoors when conditions are appropriate.
2. Planting Time: Best planted in early spring once the soil can be worked.
3. Location: Prefers full sun for maximum fruit production but tolerates partial shade.
4. Soil Preferences: Moist, well draining soil is ideal. A pH of 6.0 to 7.0 supports healthy growth.
5. Spacing: Space plants 6 to 10 feet apart to accommodate their mature size and wide growth habit.
6. Watering: Keep soil consistently moist during establishment. Once mature, Bob Gordon shows improved drought tolerance but benefits from regular watering during dry spells.
7. Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring. For commercial growers, mowing to the ground each winter encourages strong primocane fruiting. 

Shipping Details: Sold as dormant cuttings in bundles, shipped fresh starting in February. STORE IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR UNTIL PLANTING.

Non-GMO Commitment: At Growing Farmers and The Farm on Central, all our plants are guaranteed non-GMO and not genetically modified in any way, upholding natural breeding methods and promoting sustainable gardening and farming practices.

Growing method: Grown on our Coop farms using natural growing methods, no chemicals used.

Which Elderberry Should I Grow?  

Elderberry Growing Instruction Guide