- Sambucus canadensis – Non-GMO, Heirloom, Open-Pollinated
- perennial, deciduous, multi-stemmed woody shrub that produces large flowers and is native to Eastern and Central North America
- The berries of this American variety are considered to be equal to the European black elderberry in terms of taste
- A plethora of health benefits, the American elderberry is a superfood and a great addition to any garden!
- Gaea’s Blessing is based in Austin, TX. We are committed to promoting sustainable growing methods, to protecting the biodiversity of our planet, to doing our best to ensure the wellness of the environment, and above all, to ensuring our customers’ satisfaction. As adopters of the Safe Seed Pledge, we do not consciously buy or sell seeds that have been genetically modified.
Our Mission
Gaea’s Blessing was established in Central Illinois with a mission to ensure that our future generations have access to a safe and stable source of sustenance and to share our love for gardening!
We take quality and freshness seriously!
All of our seed varieties are thoroughly vetted and selected based on cultural, environmental, and seasonal cues to meet the needs of growers of all types!
Grow with us!
Whether you are a commercial farmer or are a new grower, you can rest assured, we are committed to delivering quality, non-GMO seeds to our customers!
About our seeds
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Always Fresh and Non-GMO
| Growing Tips Included
| Seed SavingAlso, did you know that fresh seeds can be kept for years when stored in cool and dry conditions? We know that you might not want to plant all of your seeds at once so we’ve included a labeled zip lock baggie for you to keep some seeds for the next growing season! |
Sambucus canadensis – Non-GMO, Heirloom, Open-Pollinated, Untreated
About the American Black Elderberry
Also known as Common Elderberry or American Elderberry, this is a perennial, deciduous, multi-stemmed woody shrub that produces large flowers and is native to Eastern and Central North America and can be found throughout Canada and the US, from Nova Scotia all the way to Florida, and west into Iowa and Illinois. The berries of this American variety are considered to be equal to the European black elderberry in terms of taste and beneficial properties – a superfood and a great addition to any garden!
Elderberries are healthy and tasty!
What is cold stratification and why does it help?
Many wild plants – especially native varieties – have tougher outer coatings that help protect them from germinating too early in the spring or too late in the summer. These varieties re-seed naturally in the wild and stay dormant until the proper time for them to start sprouting. For home gardeners, this also means that the seeds can sometimes be trickier to plant in the spring and sowing the seeds without the proper preparation may yield less than stellar results.
But fortunately there are some steps that can be taken to simulate the winter conditions that these plant varieties need to break dormancy and improve germination rates for these varieties! Cold stratification is the most widely used method and it is easy, quick, and sure to help!
Here’s how it can be done easily and with materials that are likely readily available in your kitchen!
- Soak your seeds in water for 1-2 hours.
- Use a paper towel or coffee filter to drain the water.
- Spread seeds out in a single layer on the paper towel.
- Wrap a dry paper towel around the damp paper towel to help keep things moist but not too wet (we don’t want it to become moldy).
- Place in a zip lock bag and seal.
- Label the variety and date clearly on the bag.
- Place in the zip lock back the refrigerator for 1 month before planting. If seedlings start to sprout in the bag in the refrigerator, remove immediately and either plant in the ground or in pots until it’s time to plant outdoors
Note that for fall planting of native wildflowers or varieties that require cold stratification, this step isn’t necessary. Nature will do what it does best during the winter months and cold stratify the seeds for you – but if you are planning on starting these in the spring, cold stratification is highly recommended!
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