PlantFiles: Elderberry, Black Elder, European Elder, Bourtree
Sambucus nigra 'Eva'

I purchased this very lovely shrub in 2007. Even though it was a zone 4 plant and I live in zone 3, I wanted to try it anyways as it is so pretty. I planted it next to the foundation on the east side of my home and it grew nicely over the summer. In the fall I covered it with an old rug and a styro cone and it wintered very well. It had moderate growth summer of 2008 but only had a couple of flower heads. Due to a very busy fall last year, my shrub did not get covered at all. We had an extremely cold winter with more than a few days of -40 degrees. It did survive though! It did not have any new growth on any previous branches, but growth came from the roots and it grew to a 6 or 7 foot height. But it did not flower at all. Can anyone tell me how to get it to flower?

In spring of 2008 I bought two of these as replacements (sold locally as Black Lace) for horrible red Japanese barberries. These two elders are of the same color family, but they have a much more pleasant disposition than barberries. I'm hopeful the birds are equally fond of the berries.

I also considered cutleaf red Japanese maples, and although the maples can offer me a truer red, they grow slower, and specimens the size of the plants I acquired easily cost six times as much and are not as cold tolerant.

The plants are planted in clay soil amended with processed sludge from the local sewage plant (My city gives it away for free, and it's FANTASTIC fertilizer, just not for plants you intend to eat) and top soil. They are planted along the front of an east-facing porch, and they are partially shaded by the roof, so they receive morning sun and less than average rainfall.

I pruned moderately last fall. Pruning is easy (and pain free, NASTY barberries!) In north Central Ohio they began shooting out in April and the shoots breezed through several frosts and freezes with no damage. The shoots are now fully developed and are sending out many large bloom heads.

Last year they were planted with several flower buds blooming. I noticed a faint lemon scent, not unpleasant. This year they are both covered with flower buds at the end of May. I'm looking forward to seeing if they happen to bloom at the same time as my snowflake philadelphus. :)

I note no apparent pests for this plant. It's just a nicely-colored, cut leaved, fast-growing, pruning friendly alternative to some of the other maroon colored plants that might be considered.

Hey, these plants are said to be hardy to zone 4. Minnesotans, Dakotans, folks from the great Canadian Prairies take heed, this might be a good plant for you to try!

This is the 2nd year for my 'Black Lace' and I'm amazed at how much better lookking it is from last year. Last year it stayed kind of small (maybe 3-4') and didn't bloom AT ALL. This year, It's growing (5-6') and has a bunch of beautiful light pink flowers. They're a gorgeous contrast to the black-purple clored leaves.

This is my favorite plant in my whole garden. My sister gave it to me last May as a 2-quart plant. We had a very dry, hot summer and the plant did nothing at all, so I neglected it (I sometimes get mad at my plants, I know, this is is nutty) and thought it might just die last winter. But what a surprise this spring--it exploded in growth, and it is 4 feet tall and growing. The flower "discs" are supernaturally beautiful. The dark purple leaves emerge lime green, and not one leaf has browned, wilted, or been eaten (yet). This would be also beautiful in groups or a line (for screening or a very loose hedge).

I love this plant more than I thought I would. It has a great character that is different from plant to plant. It does retain a black color here in our summers and grows quite fast. Its a trouble free beautiful plant I think its uses are endless for those looking for some dramatic color in the landscape that doesnt overpower. I am not a fan of the norway maples for various reasons. I am not the biggest fan of red norways because the size of the plant size and leaf make it stand out too much and draw too much attention from everything else in a landscape. Black Lace is very versatile and offers something different in the landscape. I dont doubt this plant will wind up in overuse at some point though because of its beauty and carefree culture. If you are deciding between this plant and Black Beauty, Black Beauty does not keep black foliage here throughout the summer in full sun. The leaves did appear small and really fine in the nursery on Black Lace but grew bigger in a landscape. The increase in size does not diminish the fine foliage texture effect the plant has though it enhanced it.

Bought on a whim because I liked its Japanese Maple Qualities (Fine Leaves). Does great and as expected in the Full Sun. In Part Shade the leaves get wider and rust a bit, but still a nice plant for dark foliage.

First year in our gardens and although it didn't bloom for us this year, the black foliage is gorgeous. Planted in full sun it has retained its color throughout the heat and humidity of our summers, unlike S. 'Black Beauty' which always loses its black foliage by mid summer. Advertised as a "Plant for Passionate Gardeners" or as an alternative for northern gardeners where hardiness is questionable for Japanese Maples.

This plant may come under the alternative variety name (or clone name) of 'Eva' outside the UK.