Sambucus Black Lace Elderberry is a stunning development in Sambucus Black Lace Elderberry breeding. Intense purple black foliage is finely cut, giving the Sambucus Black Lace Elderberry an effect similar to that of Japanese maple. Indeed, some designers are using Sambucus Black Lace Elderberry in place of the more sensitive acer varieties since Black Lace#8482; Sambucus Black Lace Elderberry pp 15,575 is extremely durable and adaptable.
Sambucus Black Lace Elderberry has creamy pink flowers in spring contrast nicely with the dark leaves. Sambucus Black Lace Elderberry are followed by blackish red fall berries which can be harvested for making elderberry wine and jam, or left on the plant to attract birds and other wildlife.
Sambucus Black Lace Elderberry is very cold hardy and easy to grow, and adaptable to most sites. Full sun is needed for the best color.Sambucus Black Lace Elderberry can be used as a dramatic accent plant, planted en masse for a trouble free high hedge, or incorporated into the mixed or perennial border. Left alone the Sambucus Black Lace Elderberry will reach up to 8 feet in height, but Sambucus Black Lace Elderberry can also be pruned back each year to fit into more formal settings.
Growing Tips:
Best in moist soil although will tolerate dry soils. Thrives under acid or alkaline soils. Best if pruned immediately after blooming. Plants set flower buds the summer prior to blooming. Best with high moisture. Deciduous shrub. Fertilize in early spring by applying a slow release fertilizer specialized for trees and shrubs. Follow the recommended rate of application.
Foliage Color: Attractive, finely cut, dark purple-black Fall Color: Remains the same color Size: 6 - 8 feet high and wide with age. Can be easily maintained as a smaller plant or trained into a small tree Exposure: Full sun for best foliage color Soil: Best in moist soil although will tolerate dry soils. Thrives under acid or alkaline soils.
Pruning:
In Zones 4 and colder it can behave like a perennial in and die back in the winter. Simply cut cut back any dead branches, as you would with a perennial. It quickly grows to form a nice plant the following spring. In Zones 5 and warmer it grows like a typical shrubs, although hard pruning every few years results in a fuller, bushier plant.
Forms its flower buds in later summer and then flowers in early June. The best time to prune is it after it blooms, from mid-June to mid-August. Cease pruning in mid-August to allow time for the flower buds to form prior to winter.
Watering:
Moist soils but becomes more drought tolerant with maturity. Uses: Groupings or masses, perennial or shrub borders, specimen, screens, roadsides, naturalizing, near boggy or wet gardens. Other: Fruit is edible and good for jellies, pies, juice and wine.
