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Black Lace Elderberry
SKU:
2099675
UPC:
014949337486
$49.99
- Deep purple-black, finely cut foliage delivers a Japanese-maple look in an easy-care shrub
- Creamy pink spring flowers followed by blackish-red berries in fall for multi-season interest
- Great for borders, hedges, and privacy screens—reaches 6–8 ft. tall and wide
- Wildlife-friendly: berries attract birds and can be harvested for elderberry wine and jam
Black Lace® Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’) is a showstopping deciduous shrub prized for its intensely dark, lace-cut foliage that looks remarkably similar to a Japanese maple—yet grows with far less fuss. In spring, creamy pink flower clusters pop against the purple-black leaves, then mature into blackish-red berries in fall that can be harvested for homemade elderberry wine and jam or left on the plant to feed birds and other wildlife. With a naturally strong, upright habit that reaches 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, this versatile plant works beautifully as a dramatic accent, a bold mixed-border anchor, or a trouble-free high hedge and privacy screen. Plant in full sun for best color, provide consistent moisture (especially when young), and prune after blooming to keep its shape and encourage vigorous new growth.
Plant Overview
Black Lace® Elderberry is a modern standout with dark, finely cut foliage and seasonal flowers and berries. Use it for dramatic color, screening, or as a bold border accent.
- Botanical name: Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’
- Plant type: Deciduous shrub
- Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage Color & Texture
Intense purple-black foliage is finely cut, creating a lacy texture with a silhouette similar to a Japanese maple—perfect for adding high-contrast drama.
- Foliage color: Purple-black
- Texture: Finely cut, lace-like leaves
- Special feature: Dramatic foliage color
Flowers (Spring Display)
Creamy pink flowers bloom in spring and stand out beautifully against the dark foliage, adding a soft, luminous contrast.
- Flower color: Pink
- Bloom time: Spring
- Flower attributes: Showy flowers
Berries (Fall Interest + Harvest)
After flowering, blackish-red berries develop in fall. Harvest them for elderberry wine and jam, or leave them for birds and wildlife to enjoy.
- Season: Fall (after spring bloom)
- Berry color: Blackish-red
- Special features: Ornamental berries; edible; benefits birds
Size & Growth Habit
Forms a substantial shrub that can stand alone as a specimen or be massed into a bold hedge or screen.
- Mature size: 6–8 ft. tall and 6–8 ft. wide
- Growth habit: Upright
- Growth rate: Moderate
Light Requirements
Full sun supports the best foliage color and overall performance.
- Light: Full sun
Watering Guidance
Keep moisture consistent, especially while the plant is establishing. Water when the top layer of soil has dried slightly.
- When to water: When the top 2 inches of soil is dry
- Soil preference: Best in moist soil, but tolerates dry soils
- Tip: Higher moisture supports best growth and vigor
Soil & Site Tolerance
Adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions and helpful in challenging sites. Performs well in moist areas and tolerates both acidic and alkaline soils.
- Soil pH: Tolerates acid or alkaline soils
- Problem solving: Very wet areas
- Best results: Moist soil with consistent watering
Pruning & Shaping
Prune immediately after blooming for best results. Black Lace® can be shaped annually for more formal landscapes or managed to maintain size.
- Best time to prune: Immediately after blooming
- Size control: Can be pruned back each year to fit formal settings
- Hard prune option: May be cut to the ground and treated like a perennial (may reduce flowering)
- Young plant tip: Benefits from a good hard pruning while young
Feeding & Seasonal Care
Feed in early spring to support vigorous growth and strong foliage development.
- Fertilizer timing: Early spring
- Fertilizer type: Slow-release fertilizer for trees and shrubs
Landscape Uses
Use as a dramatic accent plant, mass it for an easy high hedge, or mix it into borders for rich contrast and texture.
- Landscape use: Border, hedge, privacy screen
- Design ideas: Dramatic accent; plant en masse for a trouble-free hedge; mix into perennial or mixed borders
Wildlife & Resistance
Berries provide seasonal forage for birds and other wildlife. The plant is also noted for resistance traits that make it easier to grow in many landscapes.
- Wildlife value: Benefits birds
- Resistance: Deer resistant; rabbit resistant
Hardiness & Seasonal Behavior
A reliable cold-climate ornamental with strong seasonal changes—lush foliage in summer, flowers in spring, berries in fall, and a clean winter silhouette.
- Growing zones: 4–7
- Deciduous: Yes
- Bloom/berry sequence: Spring flowers followed by fall berries
Safety Note (Pets)
Use care around pets: leaves, bark, roots, and buds may be toxic if ingested. Place plants thoughtfully and avoid allowing pets to chew plant parts.
Botanical Details
Helpful identifiers for catalogs and plant tags.
- Pronunciation: sam-BYOO-kus NY-gruh
- Plant protection note: Asexual reproduction of plants protected by the Plant Patent Act is prohibited during the life of the patent
- Deep purple-black, finely cut foliage delivers a Japanese-maple look in an easy-care shrub
- Creamy pink spring flowers followed by blackish-red berries in fall for multi-season interest
- Great for borders, hedges, and privacy screens—reaches 6–8 ft. tall and wide
- Wildlife-friendly: berries attract birds and can be harvested for elderberry wine and jam
Black Lace® Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’) is a showstopping deciduous shrub prized for its intensely dark, lace-cut foliage that looks remarkably similar to a Japanese maple—yet grows with far less fuss. In spring, creamy pink flower clusters pop against the purple-black leaves, then mature into blackish-red berries in fall that can be harvested for homemade elderberry wine and jam or left on the plant to feed birds and other wildlife. With a naturally strong, upright habit that reaches 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, this versatile plant works beautifully as a dramatic accent, a bold mixed-border anchor, or a trouble-free high hedge and privacy screen. Plant in full sun for best color, provide consistent moisture (especially when young), and prune after blooming to keep its shape and encourage vigorous new growth.
Plant Overview
Black Lace® Elderberry is a modern standout with dark, finely cut foliage and seasonal flowers and berries. Use it for dramatic color, screening, or as a bold border accent.
- Botanical name: Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’
- Plant type: Deciduous shrub
- Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage Color & Texture
Intense purple-black foliage is finely cut, creating a lacy texture with a silhouette similar to a Japanese maple—perfect for adding high-contrast drama.
- Foliage color: Purple-black
- Texture: Finely cut, lace-like leaves
- Special feature: Dramatic foliage color
Flowers (Spring Display)
Creamy pink flowers bloom in spring and stand out beautifully against the dark foliage, adding a soft, luminous contrast.
- Flower color: Pink
- Bloom time: Spring
- Flower attributes: Showy flowers
Berries (Fall Interest + Harvest)
After flowering, blackish-red berries develop in fall. Harvest them for elderberry wine and jam, or leave them for birds and wildlife to enjoy.
- Season: Fall (after spring bloom)
- Berry color: Blackish-red
- Special features: Ornamental berries; edible; benefits birds
Size & Growth Habit
Forms a substantial shrub that can stand alone as a specimen or be massed into a bold hedge or screen.
- Mature size: 6–8 ft. tall and 6–8 ft. wide
- Growth habit: Upright
- Growth rate: Moderate
Light Requirements
Full sun supports the best foliage color and overall performance.
- Light: Full sun
Watering Guidance
Keep moisture consistent, especially while the plant is establishing. Water when the top layer of soil has dried slightly.
- When to water: When the top 2 inches of soil is dry
- Soil preference: Best in moist soil, but tolerates dry soils
- Tip: Higher moisture supports best growth and vigor
Soil & Site Tolerance
Adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions and helpful in challenging sites. Performs well in moist areas and tolerates both acidic and alkaline soils.
- Soil pH: Tolerates acid or alkaline soils
- Problem solving: Very wet areas
- Best results: Moist soil with consistent watering
Pruning & Shaping
Prune immediately after blooming for best results. Black Lace® can be shaped annually for more formal landscapes or managed to maintain size.
- Best time to prune: Immediately after blooming
- Size control: Can be pruned back each year to fit formal settings
- Hard prune option: May be cut to the ground and treated like a perennial (may reduce flowering)
- Young plant tip: Benefits from a good hard pruning while young
Feeding & Seasonal Care
Feed in early spring to support vigorous growth and strong foliage development.
- Fertilizer timing: Early spring
- Fertilizer type: Slow-release fertilizer for trees and shrubs
Landscape Uses
Use as a dramatic accent plant, mass it for an easy high hedge, or mix it into borders for rich contrast and texture.
- Landscape use: Border, hedge, privacy screen
- Design ideas: Dramatic accent; plant en masse for a trouble-free hedge; mix into perennial or mixed borders
Wildlife & Resistance
Berries provide seasonal forage for birds and other wildlife. The plant is also noted for resistance traits that make it easier to grow in many landscapes.
- Wildlife value: Benefits birds
- Resistance: Deer resistant; rabbit resistant
Hardiness & Seasonal Behavior
A reliable cold-climate ornamental with strong seasonal changes—lush foliage in summer, flowers in spring, berries in fall, and a clean winter silhouette.
- Growing zones: 4–7
- Deciduous: Yes
- Bloom/berry sequence: Spring flowers followed by fall berries
Safety Note (Pets)
Use care around pets: leaves, bark, roots, and buds may be toxic if ingested. Place plants thoughtfully and avoid allowing pets to chew plant parts.
Botanical Details
Helpful identifiers for catalogs and plant tags.
- Pronunciation: sam-BYOO-kus NY-gruh
- Plant protection note: Asexual reproduction of plants protected by the Plant Patent Act is prohibited during the life of the patent
