Sambucus nigra. “Black Lace” Elderberry Update

June 16th, 2008

So here we are about 9 months after I first planted this bush and I thought I’d give an update, because really, I have so much more to say. I first blogged about Sambucus “Black Lace” when I first got it, so while I could talk about the colors whatnot, I couldn’t tell you much about my experience with the plant, but now, I can.

I am even more impressed with it and can recommend it even more fully than I did originally. First of all I had ordered some smaller ones from Wayside Gardens. When they (2) arrived one was barely alive, the other was just a stick with dead leaves. They looked like they hadn’t been watered for a month at least. I planted both and one made it, the other, stayed a stick. I called Wayside and they did send a free replacement. However, get this, I never dug up the stick, and this spring, it leafed out, alive, and well, and flowering currently if you can believe that.

So obviously this plant is extremely drought and neglect hardy, it was dead, dead, and 6 months later started growing again.

This plant is also very cold hardy, giving it no winter protection, us having a colder than average Winter and a way colder than average Spring here in zone 5, this was one of the first plants in my landscape to start leafing out, I’m talking probably about with the first tulips (which were late this year because of the cold), that early, and it never got damaged by any frosts or hard freezes subsequently.

Already it has put on probably 18-24 inches of new growth or more, and, it is flowering. The flowers are nice, clusters light pink that offset the black foliage well. And they’ll turn into berries of course, for my or the bird’s eating pleasure.

This plant has also done well for my mother in Zone 4.

All told, I gotta recommend this yet again, especially for northern gardeners trying to get that Japanese maple-like laceleaf foliage without all the fuss.

Posted in: Gardening, Plant Profiles »

2 Responses to “Sambucus nigra. “Black Lace” Elderberry Update”

Shady Gardener Says:
July 7th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Thank you for this informative post!! How much sun does this bush need??? I’ve been admiring it for some time.
Vera Pappas Says:
July 31st, 2008 at 5:19 am
I am in zone 7 and had Gold Lace Sambsucus in a 2 gallon container from the nursery. I think this plant must not like the sun and heat of our summers. The leaves tended to burn from the heat. It did winter over, but really needs a cool slightly shaded spot. Which in turns reduces the yellow coloring.
Coincidentally that nursery is not carrying them this year.