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Elderflower not flowering

JMcGee1JMcGee1 Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Hi all, I bought an elderflower about 2-3 years ago, it was tiny, a very thin twig and about 30cm when I bought it so very young. It grows well, is now about 4 ft high even with pruning and produces plenty of foliage but it's never flowered. Is it because it's young or I'm pruning too hard? Although I've read it can be pruned hard. I've never actually pruned it hard and given it grows in abundance in the wild along road sides I can't figure out what's wrong as it has a lovely spot in my garden. Any ideas? 
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  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    they flower at the ends of branches so you may be cutting them off even with a light prune


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd think that's the most likely reason  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JMcGee1JMcGee1 Posts: 5
    Ah, still new to gardening. I've read you prune in late winter and can prune hard so I've been hacking off a good third which is likely the problem. When is best to prune then do you think? 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You don't really need to prune them, unless they're getting too big, or there are damaged branches.  :)

    The other method of pruning for old, mature shrubs, is to do a three year cycle. You take around a third of the branches right back, and then do the same with the other two thirds over subsequent years. That means you still get flowers/fruits, and after three years the whole plant is renewed. Yours wouldn't be at that stage for a good while though  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JMcGee1JMcGee1 Posts: 5
    I found something on this site, it says prune in spring! So I've been doing it wrong this whole time! You live and learn... 
  • JMcGee1JMcGee1 Posts: 5
    Thanks Fairygirl!!  :) 
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited May 2022
    I prune and shape mine immediately after the berries have been eaten. It blooms prolifically every year
    Edit:
    I cut out long new growth, cut off the fruit stalks back to the leaves but don't cut it back to sticks. There is always plenty of foliage left.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Hard pruning in spring is for the ornamental elders that you grow primarily for the foliage, like Sambucus "Black Lace". That's maybe where the confusion came from.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - after fruiting is the ideal time. The timing of that depends on location and variety. 

    It really depends on how it fits into the surroundings too. Some people want a large shrub or small tree, and some don't, and need it to be more contained. For a shrub, you can cut back hard, and you'll get more impressive foliage   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JMcGee1JMcGee1 Posts: 5
    Brill! I'll keep an eye on the wild elders locally to see when they fruit. Thanks all! Really helpful  :)
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