Sambucus, Black Elder, Bourtree, Elderberry, European Elder 'Eva'

On Apr 26, 2017, Holeinthehead from Hobart, IN wrote:

Love this plant but sadly lost it after 2years (5ft tall 😩) to some kind of tiny worm that I assume is a borer. There is some new growth at the base, hoping it will get better after spraying with Malithion ?
I'm concerned that the worm/borer got into the roots. Does anyone know how to treat that?

On May 19, 2014, LanfrancoLeo from Harrisburg, PA wrote:

This is one of the most beautiful shrub that I have ever either seen and had. I have the BLACK LACE variety which foliage is really really dark, extremely fringed, really beautiful, I whish I bought more than one when I ordered!!! I bought a little plant from forest farm this April, it adapted perfectly well to the new location (remember to give enough sun if you want a nice dark foliage) and it even bloom the first year that I planted (see picture). From what I heard it grow very fast too. The combination of with-pale rose flower contrasting against the dark foliage is simply beautiful. Other two additional quality make this plant far better than a japanese maple:
1. It has a very nice fragrant foliage
2.The flower are bee-friendly and the berry are bird friendly..
I... read moref you have a nice space in your garden and you want a nice foliage tree...do not hesitate to buy it!!!

On May 27, 2012, frugal from Spring, TX wrote:

Absolutely love mine! After the first year it really took off and bloomed all summer long.

On Sep 19, 2011, thevioletfern from Clayton, NY (Zone 4b) wrote:

This shrub is one of my favorites and has often fooled visitors to my garden into thinking that it is a Japanese Maple. In zone 4, it is an excellent alternative to the Japanese Maple. It has tripled in size in three years. Wonderful lace-cap like flowers in spring, wonderful foliage that holds all summer long, and berries come fall.

On Feb 12, 2011, hortulaninobili from St. Louis, MO (Zone 6a) wrote:

Aesthetically speaking, this plant has it all: wonderful burgundy foliage, nice clear-pink flowers, refined texture, and manageable growth habit. Concerns of practicality, I am not impressed with disease/insect-tolerance/resistance and lack of robustness.

Leaves emerge in spring and new flush of growth dies back. Culprit seems to be some sort of larva or grub taking up residence in the pith (likely cutting off all water an nutrient supply causing dieback). Also, St. Louis summer heat and humidity does not seem to treat this cultivar of elderberry well -- even though it's close cousins do just fine in neighboring woods (Sambucus canadensis). Leaves have rather acrid, pungent odor, smelling similar to boxwood.

Currently growing in a mulched border with great soi... read morel, ample moisture, and full sun. I suspect this plant is at the southern end of it's range and will perform much worse the further south one goes. Probably a better plant for more northern climes.

For similar color, I suggest Weigela 'Wine and Roses' or a Japanese maple.

On Apr 5, 2010, maryap from Timnath, CO wrote:

This is a gorgeous plant! I planted mine last spring 2009 in Northern Colorado. I bought a fairly large plant from my local nursery ($40). It did really well and has such delicate leaves and I also got several beautiful clusters of pink flowers in its first year in my garden. I believe that is due to my purchasing a larger plant. I'm going to buy one for my daughter's garden this spring.

On May 25, 2009, joegee from Bucyrus, OH (Zone 6a) wrote:

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-... read morefacing 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!

On Jun 15, 2007, meliana from Baltimore, MD wrote:

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).

On Nov 8, 2006, MBlakeslee from Sterling Heights, MI wrote:

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.

On Jul 8, 2003, stevenova from Newcastle,
United Kingdom (Zone 8a) wrote:

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