Sunday, June 27, 2010

Plant of the Month: June 2010 - Black Lace Elderberry (Sambucas nigra 'Eva')

The Black lace elderberry (Sambucus nigra 'Eva') is a fairly new variety, but it has quickly spread throughout the gardening community.  It was developed in England in 2000 and introduced to the United States in 2006.  It is now available in most major garden stores.

The stunning, dark, lacy foliage of this plant is its greatest feature, and it puts on a great show from spring through the first frost.  In early June, the plant is covered with lacy, flat-topped light pink flowers that can reach up to 10" across.  The plant prefers full sun and can reach 6' - 8' tall and equally as wide.  If left to grow naturally, it will be a fairly open and graceful but floppy shrub.  Pruning once a year (right after it flowers) will keep the plant smaller with a more regular shape.  I maintain mine somewhere between the two extremes - trying to balance an open, graceful form with a fairly compact size.

Black lace elderberry works great in containers, as a specimen in the garden or planted in drifts.  Pair it with chartreusse foliage plants and 'hot' flower colors, like orange and hot pink, for a striking show that is sure to be a conversation starter in your Urban Garden.

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