Sambucus racemosa Goldenlocks - European Red Elder

The Sambucus racemosa 'Goldenlocks' has little in common with the species type, the elderberry bush. While it also produces a creamy white flowering in umbels in spring and red berries in late summer, its foliage resembles a Japanese maple. Very finely cut and delicate, its graceful leaves, bright green to yellow, adorn a small rounded bush, about 1m (3ft) tall. Its cultivation is that of elderberry: undemanding, as long as the soil is not too dry in summer and not too compact.

The Sambucus racemosa, or mountain elderberry, is a deciduous bush of the Caprifoliaceae family, just like honeysuckles. It is a very hardy wild species widespread in Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor.

The elderberry bush or Sambucus racemosa 'Goldenlocks' is a horticultural variety that stands out from the species type with its moderate growth and beautifully structured and coloured foliage. The plant has a bushy habit of flexible branches and forms a feathery, airy mass, about 90 cm (35in) high and wide or a little over 1m (3ft) maximum. The deciduous, opposite leaves are composed of finely cut leaflets with toothed edges, displaying colours ranging from bright green to vibrant yellow. Depending on the climate, Melliferous and slightly fragrant flowering occur in May or June. It takes the form of conical panicles composed of small star-shaped creamy white flowers appearing at the end of the stems. After pollination, clusters of small round berries form, tightly packed together. Truly decorative at the end of the season, with a bright red colour, they stand out beautifully against the foliage. These fruits are a tasty treat for birds.

The 'Goldenlocks' Elderberry is a remarkable small bush with graceful, feathery, and bright foliage. It is lovely in a small garden, a patio, a container, or a large pot. Place it in the centre of a small flowerbed or near an entrance. To further accentuate its beautiful colour, pair it with the purple or almost black foliage of low shrubs such as Physocarpus or Berberis. Add the blue flowering of a small Ceanothus. It enhances the autumn colours of Hydrangea quercifolia or Euonymus alatus 'Compactus'.

In the garden:

The leaves of the elderberry bush are known to accelerate compost decomposition. Black elderberry leaf infusion is useful in organic gardening to combat mildew and aphid or rodent attacks: place 1 kg of leaves for a few days in 10 L of water and spray as necessary. It can also be planted in an orchard, attracting insect-predatory birds.