Large creamy-white flower clusters are followed by sweet black berries in late summer. 'Ranch' is especially drought tolerant and performs well in poorer soils. Elderberries do well in our area. - Elderberries produce more fruit when 2 or more varieties are used to cross-pollinate each other. They prefer fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Elderberries grow tall, and can be pruned to the ground to regrow or left as a bush. They can produce fruit either way.