Andean elderberry (sauco)
Sambucus peruviana
Fruits through the year in the highlands; cook the berries for jam and drinks.
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: full sun to part shade
Size: about 20 ft tall, 12 ft wide
Harvest: year-round
From: Andes from Costa Rica to Argentina
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, pollinators, wildlife.
Native to: Andean highlands. Hardy in zones 9 to 11.
The story
Sauco, the Andean elder, has been grown around Andean villages from Costa Rica to Argentina since pre-Inca times for its big, sweet black berries, eaten fresh and made into jam and wine, and for living fences; it is far sweeter than the northern elders.
Planting
Full sun or part shade, moist soil, and a cool, frost-light climate; a 20-foot tree. Plant a cutting.
Growing
Water through dry spells; prune after harvest. It fruits within two years.
Harvest and use
Clusters ripen black through the year; sweet enough to eat fresh, and good for jam and wine.
What to watch for
Aphids; hot humid lowlands.
Safety
Raw elderberries, unripe berries, seeds, leaves and stems can cause nausea and vomiting. Eat only ripe berries that have been cooked, and leave out the stems.
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More berries and small fruit
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home