Comments on: Sambucus nigra. “Black Lace” Elderberry

By: Betty Trowbridge-Hagan

Betty Trowbridge-Hagan — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:01:41 +0000

Just snagged one on an end-of-season sale. It’s going to go in a part sun, part shade spot that tends to be dry (we’re in sand). I’ll amend the planting hole and water it well. Then I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hope it does well. Love the look.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:44:03 +0000

They love full sun but moist soil, New growth is green turning black.

If an older shoot is totally green snip it off otherwise the green will take over.

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:54:37 +0000

I have this plant growing in Zone 8 and in full sun and it is staying black on all sides with the pinkish flowers now coming out all over. It has already grown another trunk branch of over 2 feet just during this spring. It does not seem to like part shade very much judging from a neighbors specimen.

By: Babs

Babs — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:01:36 +0000

I bought some of these plants to start an informal hedge. The nursery tag said the deer wouldn’t like them. Wrong! They mowed through the shrubs. Most of them had doubled in size (to about 4′) in the months before Mama and her twins found them. So this year I have them covered. Hopefully they keep growing fast, so they can get large enough in a couple years to withstand the grazers without protection. I have to finish the row this year, but not sure how much I want to fight the deer over these gorgeous plants.

By: Misti

Misti — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:56:25 +0000

I have a black lace. Going in to its 2nd spring. zone 6 I have realized after more reading up on the plantâ€¦Its in the wrong spot. (I love it so much that I want it to grow giant. It loves the mostly dry southern very small spot by my pool. I need to move it and I am wondering can it take wet spring kind of soggy for a few weeks?? It is the perfect southern facing only lower in the same area. Will it take the water?

By: Debbie

Debbie — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:58:44 +0000

I have 2 Black Lace and just planted them last spring. After reading all the information on them I think I should let them grow tall, which means I need to move them. It is Feb. in zone 7, would this be a good time to transplant them, and would I sacrifice the blooms if I move them?

By: Terrie Kaufman

Terrie Kaufman — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:13:46 +0000

I have had 2 Black Lace and love them. They are indeed black and they like water. In one year mine has grown over 12 feet tall and I woke up this morning thinking I would like to try something different with it. It is in front of my greenhouse window and of course letting little light through. I am going to try something this morning and not sure it will work. I am going to cut the middle out of the plant, leaving the 12 foot sides and then put something like a small table over the center with a pot on it. Have no idea this will, or will not work.

LOVE THIS PLANT, IT’S GORGEOUS.

By: Administrator

Administrator — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:08:41 +0000

I would try it in sun, though my shadier ones are growing fine too, the ones in the sun are growing best.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:35:46 +0000

Last year I planted a Black Lace, it held it’s color but grew very little. I thought I had lost it over the winter, but it came back this spring but is growing very slowly. It is planted in a part shade/shady spot. Do you think it just isn’t getting enough sun? Should I try moving it? Zone 4/5

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:27:03 +0000

Has anyone had a problem with the plant becoming droopy? Especially on sunny days?