Alphabetical Plant Listing

Sambucus nigra Instant Karma® (Elderberry)

Elderberry Instant Karma®, Elder Instant Karma®, European Elder Instant Karma®, Black Elder Instant Karma®, Sambucus Instant Karma, Sambucus nigra 'Sanivalk' PP28314


Brightening the garden, Sambucus nigra Instant Karma® (Elderberry) is a deciduous shrub clothed in a lush, lacy foliage of variegated leaves from spring to fall. The blue-green leaves are adorned with a neat leaf margin that starts out gold in spring and changes to creamy white as the season progresses. In early summer, a profusion of large clusters packed with lemon-scented, white flowers are on display. They contrast nicely with the foliage and give way to edible purple-black berries later in the season. Tough and adaptable, this is a luminous shrub for the back of mixed borders, hedges or screens.

  • 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. Drought tolerant.
  • 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.
  • Elderberries look great unpruned, but they take well to pruning too. They are best pruned after blooming, although if you are growing it primarily as a foliage plant, it can be pruned in early spring.
  • This plant has medium severity poison characteristics. All parts are toxic to humans.

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Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 7
Heat Zones 6 – 8
Climate Zones 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Sambucus - Elder
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early)
Height 6' – 8' (180cm – 240cm)
Spread 6' – 8' (180cm – 240cm)
Spacing 72" – 96" (180cm – 240cm)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Tolerance Clay Soil, Deer, Drought, Rabbit
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage

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Great Plant Combination Ideas with Sambucus - Elder


Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 7
Heat Zones 6 – 8
Climate Zones 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Sambucus - Elder
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early)
Height 6' – 8' (180cm – 240cm)
Spread 6' – 8' (180cm – 240cm)
Spacing 72" – 96" (180cm – 240cm)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Tolerance Clay Soil, Deer, Drought, Rabbit
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Sambucus - Elder

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