Wyldewood Elderberry is a wild-selected American elderberry cultivar chosen from the natural landscape of Eufaula, Oklahoma in 1995 and now central to regional elderberry cultivation. This hardy shrub grows to 8 feet tall and thrives across zones 4 through 9, producing generous clusters of dark berries that ripen in late summer about two weeks after the Bob Gordon variety. Unlike its European cousins, this native North American elderberry carries the same potent healthful properties in a form naturally adapted to diverse growing conditions across most of the nation.
Full Sun
Moderate
4-9
96in H x ?in W
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High
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Selected from wild Oklahoma stock rather than bred in a laboratory, Wyldewood brings genuine regional resilience to home gardens. The berries produce steadily over an entire month once they begin ripening, spreading your harvest across several weeks rather than delivering everything at once. For gardeners in maritime climates or anywhere from the cold Northeast to warm South, this variety has proven itself in real-world cultivation, not just controlled trials.
Wyldewood berries serve the same culinary and traditional medicine purposes as other American elderberries. The abundant harvest can be processed into syrups, cordials, jams, and wines, or dried for tea and tonic preparations. The extended ripening period means you can harvest fresh berries over several weeks rather than all at once, allowing flexibility in how you process and preserve your crop.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Berries ripen in late summer, approximately two weeks after the Bob Gordon variety. Pick berries when they are fully dark and soft to the touch; they should come away from the stem easily when ripe. The extended harvest window spans roughly one month, allowing you to pick berries in multiple passes as clusters mature across the canopy.
Wyldewood responds well to dormant season cutting, which can be done severely to encourage vigorous renewal growth. Prune in late winter before growth begins. The variety's ability to handle aggressive pruning means you can shape it as needed and maintain productivity through regular renewal cycles.
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“In 1995, Raintree Nursery identified and selected Wyldewood from wild elderberry populations growing in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Rather than being developed through deliberate crossing or breeding, this cultivar represents the refinement of naturally occurring excellence; a plant with the vigor and productivity of its wild origins but selected specifically for superior performance. Its success in establishing itself as a foundational variety for the regional elderberry industry reflects its practical value as both a performer and a parent plant for continued cultivation.”