Growing elderberries in your garden is a rewarding experience, as these resilient plants produce nutritious berries with a variety of culinary and medicinal uses. However, to truly maximize the potential of your elderberry patch, consider incorporating companion plants. This strategy not only promotes the health and productivity of your elderberries but also enhances the overall biodiversity and resilience of your garden.
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What Are Companion Plants?
Companion plants are species that, when grown together, benefit each other in various ways. These benefits include improved growth, pest control, enhanced pollination, and better soil health. By carefully selecting and placing companion plants, you create a symbiotic environment where each plant supports the others, leading to a more productive and sustainable garden.
Why Add Companion Plants to Your Elderberry Patch?
Elderberries thrive in a diverse environment. Adding companion plants to your elderberry patch can improve soil fertility, attract beneficial insects, deter pests, and even enhance the flavor of the berries. By planting companions, you also make better use of space, reduce the need for chemical inputs, and create a more aesthetically pleasing garden.
Top Companion Plants for Elderberries
Let’s dive in to the absolute best companion plants for elderberry plants!
Clover
One excellent companion for elderberries is clover, a nitrogen-fixing plant that enriches the soil by converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use. This natural fertilization process provides elderberries with the nutrients they need for vigorous growth, helping them develop strong roots and produce more fruit. Clover also acts as a living mulch, reducing soil erosion and keeping the soil cool and moist.
To take full advantage of these benefits, sow clover around the base of your elderberry plants or in the spaces between them.
Yarrow
Yarrow is another beneficial companion plant for elderberries. Known for attracting beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps, yarrow helps keep the pest population in check, reducing the likelihood of damage to your elderberry plants. Additionally, yarrow improves soil structure and increases water retention, which are both beneficial for elderberries.
Plant yarrow near your elderberry bushes, but at a slight distance to allow for air circulation, either along the borders of the elderberry patch or interspersed with other companion plants.
Garlic
Garlic is an excellent natural pest deterrent, known for repelling aphids, spider mites, and other insects that can damage elderberries. Its strong scent confuses pests, making it harder for them to locate your elderberry plants. By keeping pests at bay, garlic helps ensure that elderberries can grow without the stress of insect attacks. Additionally, garlic’s antifungal properties protect elderberries from soil-borne diseases.
To make the most of garlic’s protective qualities, plant it around the base of your elderberry bushes or in a ring around the patch.
Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are also highly beneficial for elderberries. Known as “trap crops,” nasturtiums attract pests like aphids and whiteflies away from elderberries. This reduces the pressure of pest infestations on your elderberry plants. Additionally, nasturtiums attract pollinators, which help increase elderberry fruit set. The vibrant flowers of nasturtiums also add visual appeal to your garden.
To use nasturtiums effectively, plant them near the edges of your elderberry patch or in between the bushes, allowing them to spread and fill gaps.
Comfrey
Comfrey is a dynamic accumulator that pulls up nutrients from deep in the soil, making them available to other plants. It produces large amounts of organic matter, which can be used as mulch or compost. By enriching the soil with potassium, phosphorus, and other essential nutrients, comfrey supports the growth of elderberries. The nutrient-rich leaves of comfrey can be cut and used as a natural mulch around elderberries. Additionally, comfrey attracts beneficial insects like pollinators, further supporting elderberry production.
Plant comfrey near the elderberry bushes, but give it space to grow as it can become large.
Borage
Borage is another excellent companion plant for elderberries. It attracts pollinators, especially bees, which are crucial for the pollination of elderberries. Improved pollination rates can help increase elderberry yields. Borage also improves soil health by adding trace minerals and acts as a natural pest deterrent. Its deep roots help break up compacted soil, improving water and nutrient uptake for elderberries.
Plant borage near the elderberry patch, but not too close to avoid competition for resources.
Chickweed
Chickweed is a beneficial ground cover that acts as living mulch, protecting the soil from erosion and retaining moisture. By keeping the soil moist and reducing weed competition, chickweed helps elderberries establish a strong root system. It also attracts beneficial insects and improves soil fertility, contributing to a healthy garden ecosystem.
Allow chickweed to grow naturally around the elderberry patch, either as a ground cover or lightly managed to ensure it doesn’t overtake other plants.
Oregano
Oregano, a fragrant herb, is another excellent companion for elderberries. It deters pests such as aphids and spider mites, and its flowers attract pollinators, which help increase elderberry fruit production.
Oregano’s low-growing nature also makes it a good ground cover to reduce weed pressure. To make the most of oregano’s benefits, plant it around the base of elderberry bushes or along the edges of the patch.
Sorrel
Sorrel, a perennial leafy green, enriches the soil with minerals and acts as a natural ground cover. Its broad leaves provide shade to the soil, helping to retain moisture and suppress weeds, which supports the overall health of elderberry plants. Additionally, sorrel attracts beneficial insects like predatory beetles, contributing to a balanced ecosystem in your garden.
Plant sorrel near the elderberry bushes, particularly in areas that need additional ground cover.
Additional Perennial Plants and Flowers for Elderberries
In addition to the plants mentioned, consider adding lavender, thyme, fennel, and marigolds to your elderberry patch.
Lavender attracts pollinators and deters pests with its strong fragrance, making it a fragrant and protective barrier when planted along the borders.
Thyme is a low-growing herb that deters pests and attracts pollinators, serving as a ground cover beneath elderberry bushes.
Fennel attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps, helping to control pest populations, although it should be planted at a distance from elderberries to avoid competition for resources.
Marigolds deter nematodes and other soil-borne pests, making them excellent companions when planted around the edges of your elderberry patch or interspersed with other companion plants.
By incorporating these companion plants into your elderberry patch, you’ll create a thriving, diverse ecosystem that benefits not just your elderberries, but your entire garden. Happy planting!
