Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'

nigra is an Elder that has black serrated leaves or often known as having cut leaf, a very elegant and easy to maintain medium sized shrub. As a shrub it should be cut back completely to keep it compact with lush growth each winter. Or grown as a small tree it can grow to 6m, with pinnate leaves turning pale yellow in autumn, clusters of small pink white flowers combine to make a flat large flower head. Blooms in early summer followed by small black berries, it is a real gem that adds a brilliant contrast to the greens and of the garden.

RHS pruning group: 7