Sambucus nigra Black Lace® (Elderberry)

Noted for its dramatic foliage, award-winning Sambucus nigra Black Lace® (Elderberry) is a large, upright, deciduous shrub adorned with a striking lacy foliage of deeply dissected, purple black leaves from spring to fall. In early summer, a profusion of lemon-scented umbels packed with creamy pink flowers are on display. They contrast nicely with the dark leaves and give way to purple-black berries later in the season. Both fruit and flowers may be used for flavoring and cooking. Tough and adaptable, this is a stunning shrub for the mixed border, hedges or screens.

• Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
• Grows up to 6-8 ft. tall and wide (180-240 cm). Spreads freely by self-seeding and by root suckers to form colonies.
• Performs best in full sun or part shade, in moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils. Best foliage color when grown in full sun.
• Excellent choice as a single specimen plant, informal screens or hedges.
• May be subject to verticillium wilt and aphids. Deer resistant.
• Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter.
• Will tolerate hard pruning to restrict the size; can be maintained as a small shrub. Prune suckers unless naturalizing is desired. Regular pruning of the foliage of this cultivar will encourage growth of additional purple leaves.
• This plant has medium severity poison characteristics. All parts are toxic to humans.