I have Adams and Johns varieties of elderberries, planted for good pollination. One is about 3 to 4 feet shorter and not as wide as the other and the smaller berry plants also produce smaller berries and have a shorter season. The larger of the two re-seed easily, almost becoming invasive and they flower early, get huge umbrells of berries and last well in to late fall. I have thought about taking cuttings, but the root systems of elderberry plants are shallow so where I had originally wanted to plant them - on a hillside - is not a good place. I do have a forest edge though and this would make a great understory planting at the edge of our prairie.

Good article.