u/oatmilkxoxo

Last year I had a very young elderberry I had gotten from a local native plant sale, and I planted it in my yard May 2025. It did well for a while, but then got dug up by squirrels multiple times (it didn't seem to have strong roots), and we were in the most extreme drought in the last 30 years, although I thought I was watering it very regularly. By late summer, it had lost all of its leaves, the wood died (I then clipped it down to the root) and nothing has come back up this year.

A month ago, my partner brought me home an elderberry cutting that was rooting and had several green leaves, and looked promising! We were told to wait a month before planting, so I did, and I've been trying to keep it watered when it doesn't rain, and away from critters outside. I've also brought it inside overnight when it has gotten around freezing just to reduce stress.

The past week or two I think someone ate one or two of the leaves, and then the rest have turned brown and it looks busted 😭 😭 😭 😭 I'm still watering every several days and have remained hopeful, but what am I missing!!! I normally keep my plants alive but the elderberry has been a special challenge and I'm not sure why 😄

ps: it lives outside 95% of the time, I took this photo inside as I brought it inside tonight due to a random (and possibly our last) freezing night :)