It caused a sensation at one of the largest plant fairs in the world. The Black Lace Elderberry takes even experts' breath away. You can find out here what distinguishes the breed and how it should be planted and cared for.
What characterizes the red-leaved elderberry 'Black Lace'?
The red-leaved elderberry 'Black Lace' impresses with its dark, purple foliage, deeply slit leaves, pink plate flowers and edible, black berries in autumn. It reaches a height of 200 to 350 cm and a width of 150 to 300 cm.
A captivating appearance
Red-leaved elderberry per se is already considered a breathtaking variation within the elderberry species, because it tops the green-leaved wild form of the black elderberry with subtle elegance. The Black Lace Elderberry breeding selects the positive attributes of both plant versions and combines them under one roof. The result is impressive, as the following profile shows:
- dark, purple foliage, deeply slit
- pink-colored plate flowers with a diameter of 15 centimeters
- the flowers exude a pleasant scent of lemons
- edible black elderberries in autumn
- Growth height from 200 to 350 centimeters
- Growth width from 150 to 300 centimeters
- annual growth of 30 to 60 centimeters
A Black Lace elderberry scores with its pleasing tolerance to location. It grows best in a sunny to partially shaded spot in the garden. If it is not cut, it will have reached a height of 3 meters after 5 years. This means he is not as impetuous as his big brother. Thanks to its tolerance to cutting, the variety can easily be kept at a height of 150-200 centimeters and is therefore ideal as a shapely hedge plant.
Tips for proper planting and care
To successfully cultivate a Black Lace Elderberry, only a few factors are important. In order for it to develop its magnificent foliage and enchanting flowers, the chosen location should not be too dark. You can satisfy its great hunger for nutrients if it is regularly fertilized right from the start with compost (€12.00 on Amazon), stable manure and horn shavings.
A red-leaved elderberry should be protected from drought stress, because it reacts harshly by shedding its leaves. Since the wild fruit tree flowers and produces fruit on the previous year's wood, pruning is preferably carried out after the harvest.
Tips & Tricks
A red-leaved elderberry for the small garden comes under the variety name 'Black Tower'. Its columnar growth makes it ideal for growing as a decorative solitaire in the front garden. The wild fruit tree also looks good in a large pot on the terrace or balcony.
