Black Elderberry - Sambucus nigra Black Beauty

<strong> </strong><strong>Elder is an extraordinary shrub</strong>! Here’s something to surprise you: Sambucus, isn’t it that unruly and somewhat invasive bush that colonises the hedges of our countryside? The new species of elder have retained the boldness and hardiness of the wild species: they are not fussy about soil and <strong>they do not require</strong> <strong>special care</strong>. However, they are <strong>less invasive</strong>… and that’s a good point! Depending on the variety, elders offer a blurred or upright silhouette. The <strong>foliage competes</strong> <strong>in originality</strong> in terms of shapes and colours. Highly dissected (even feathery), they are decorative and <strong>display a wide variety of</strong> <strong>colours</strong>: variegated, green, golden, purple, almost black! As a result, <strong>the elder can be a standout plant in the garden</strong>: the intense colours or the very decorative shape of the leaves can create an attractive focal point. It heralds spring with its magnificent young shoots, and its fragrant flowering gracefully accompanies it. <strong>It can also serve as a backdrop for a perennial border.</strong> <strong>The elder meets all gardeners' desires</strong>: it will create varied scenes in a hedge or a border according to many styles. <strong>It will appear natural in a wild hedge</strong> or at the back of a flowering meadow and will be more formal with its fastigiate varieties. It will compose <strong>a sophisticated scene with variegated, dark, or golden colours</strong> and bring a <strong>touch of exoticism with its laciniate leaves.</strong> <strong> </strong> [caption id="attachment_43959" align="aligncenter" width="1172"]<a href="https://en.promessedefleurs.eu/shrubs/shrubs-by-variety/sambucus-elder-tree/sambucus-nigra-black-lace-black-elder.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="wp-image-43959 size-full" src="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/blogwp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/sureau-black-lace.jpg" alt="Elder Black Lace or Eva, a very ornamental variety" width="1172" height="780" /></a> Sambucus 'Black Lace', a very ornamental variety with fine dark foliage - Photo: Judy Dean[/caption]