Pacific Red Elderberry Seeds – 50 Count

Southern Seeds was founded in 2019 by Ryan and Kim Dorn and became Seed Therapy in 2025. The family business moved its operations to the Dallas, Texas, area in 2023. Drawing on generations of growing experience, the team focuses on dependable seeds, personal customer service, and helping gardeners succeed. Its work includes relationships with American farms and seed donations to schools and community gardens.

Planting Instructions:

OUTDOORS: By far the easiest method is to direct sow outdoors in the fall and let Mother Nature do it's thing over the winter to break the dormancy. Sow at 1/4" depth, 10 feet apart, and 3-4 seeds per plant. Keep moist, but not wet.

INDOORS: Starting inside, elderberry is a long term, multiple stage process that needs BOTH scarification (soaking) and stratification (warm/cold treatment) to break the dormancy. Basically, we're trying to replicate what occurs naturally in nature. It's a long process, but one that we find is extremely rewarding. Elderberry is finicky and it’s such a gratifying feeling when you first see seedlings pop up. Germination rates vary wildly depending on technique from 5% with no seed prep to this technique which achieves roughly a 73% germination rate which is quite high for Elderberry. We highly recommend it.

STAGE 1 - SCARIFICATION: The fastest method is to soak the seeds in sulfuric acid for 10 mins and then thoroughly rinse. The seeds are then ready for Stage 2. The slower, but safer and easier method is to soak the seeds in HOT (175F) water for 10 minutes, allow to cool and continue to soak at room temperature for 24 hours.

STAGE 2 - WARM STRATIFICATION: After the soaking (scarification), the seeds will need a warm period. Place the seeds into a plastic bag with moist peat moss and place it into a warmer area of roughly 72-75° for 60 days occasionally checking to ensure the moss remains damp.

STAGE 3 - COLD STRATIFICATION: After the warm stratification, we will move to a cold period to break the dormancy. Place the damp peat moss seed bag into the refrigerator for 60 days occasionally checking to make sure moss remains damp.

STAGE 4 - FINALLY READY TO SOW: After that process (I know it's long), sow seeds at 3-4 seeds per pot at 1/4" depth with pH 5.2 to 5.14 mix and put pots in a warm, sunny area. Water regularly to ensure the soil is moist, but not wet. Allow 45 days to germinate.

STAGE 5 - TRANSPLANT: The seedlings can be transplanted when they are a few inches tall.

Explore more seeds growing and garden seeds and growing essentials at BuyAmerican.

• Heirloom
• Non-GMO
• American grown seeds
• Perennial Shrub
• USDA Zones: 3-9

Sold as seeds for planting. Select this packet by its variety, quantity, and growing requirements; it is not a live plant.

Country of origin: United States. The supplier identifies this product as American-grown.

Keep unused seeds dry and cool in a clearly labeled, closed container. Protect the packet from humidity and temperature swings, and retain the variety name and sowing notes for your next planting. Use the species-specific directions below when deciding whether to start indoors, sow directly, soak seeds, or provide a cold period. Germination and growth vary with seed handling and local growing conditions.

For general seed-starting and storage guidance, see University of Minnesota Extension’s seed-starting guide. Use the variety-specific packet directions for this product.

Shipping for this product

This product ships directly from Southern Seeds, now Seed Therapy. The supplier currently lists standard processing of 1–3 business days, increasing to approximately 3–5 business days during the busy late-December-through-April-or-May seed season. Processing is separate from carrier transit time. Its published standard shipping rate is $4.99 per order, with free standard shipping at a merchandise subtotal of $35 or more after discounts and before taxes. The options, offers, and final charges displayed at BuyAmerican checkout govern this order; purchases from other makers may ship separately. Carrier delivery dates are estimates. The supplier ships within the United States and may restrict certain seeds by destination.

Returns and seed guarantee

For this product, Southern Seeds/Seed Therapy publishes a 60-day satisfaction guarantee, offering an eligible replacement or product-price refund for concerns reported within 60 days of delivery. Original shipping is generally excluded. Preference-based physical returns generally require customer-paid return shipping; supplier errors or damaged or defective items receive an appropriate resolution without an additional return-shipping charge. Contact BuyAmerican at hello@buyamerican.mom with your order number, product name, and concern before mailing anything back. BuyAmerican’s standard return policy provides a 30-day request period for eligible unused items in original packaging. Ask BuyAmerican to coordinate any supplier guarantee request for your marketplace order.

Read the BuyAmerican return policy or contact BuyAmerican order support before a return.