 |
Saturday, May 6, 2006
Plant Pick: Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'
Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' (Black lace elderberry)
The range of colors and leaf forms of the European elderberry continues to grow.
 | ||
The newest cultivar, 'Black Lace,' takes on the fine foliage of forma laciniata and the best dark color of 'Black Beauty.' Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' forms a tall shrub that grows to about 8 feet high and half as wide. In early spring, the bare branches break into leaf; the foliage begins green, but quickly darkens to purple-black and stays that way throughout the summer.
The leaves are finely divided, and the whole plant resembles a cutleaf Japanese maple -- except for the flowers. They appear in May in flat-topped clusters that are at least 6 inches across. The flowers are pinkish in bud and open to white; black berrylike fruit develops during the summer.
Sambucus 'Black Lace' grows best in full sun to part shade; once established, it needs no summer water.
My web site
My Yahoo!
Google
· The Grounded Gardener: Only if you pass the test do you get pie
· Edibles: Wonderful new book takes the (fruit) cake
· Just Ask: Thanks, Grandpa, for your gardening legacy
· Don't cut class: Practice pruning on junipers
· Meet Our Experts
· Garden Calendar
· Plant Pick of the Week: Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree)
more
101 Elliott Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 448-8000
Home Delivery: (206) 464-2121 or (800) 542-0820
seattlepi.com serves about 1.7 million unique visitors
and 30 million page views each month.
Send comments to newmedia@seattlepi.com
Send investigative tips to iteam@seattlepi.com
©1996-2008 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Terms of Use/Privacy Policy
