Sambucus nigra "Black Lace"

It might be my imagination, but I think that all Elders this year are producing extra-large, and more, flower cluster this year.

Mine is just coming into flower yours looks fantastic, you have a fabric theme going on there :o)

Pirates liked to wear their (mostly plundered) Sunday bests when ashore, bo'sun!! They had a penchant for rich fabrics, ribbons, beads and jewellery - not just a single gold loop through one ear. Aharr!!! ;-)

Re the Sambucus - I chopped mine well back last summer after the blooms faded, following advice given here on GOY. It seems to have done mine a whole lot of good. :-))

Wow what a wonderful display of flowers on yours David, I bought one earlier this year, hope mine flowers as good.

Do these pirates like a little tipple as well. I've just made some pink Elderberry champagne with my Black Lace. Anyone wanting the recipe I'll post it.

Yes please Pamd I would love the recipe.

I dont think its your imagination David, mine has done better this year too...has it something to do with the cold winter?...:>)

i was wiondering if it does, Motinot. The ones I have seen, and the pics here on GOY, all seem to show much more flowerheads this year.

It should do, 6d! I prune mine back now quite a bit once the flkowers or berries have passed.

Oh, yes please, Pam!! Please post as a blog, and will put it on GOYpedia. There have been a few queries as to whether the berries of the black elders are edible. :-))

I don't see why the berries aren't edible David, If you can make a drink with the flowers I've also done a cordial which is very refreshing & pink so the kiddies would like it. Have done the blog for champagne will do one for cordial, only problem you need 20 flowerheads & I struggled as my plant isn't that big.

Many Thanks for the blog, Pam. I now know that the berries are, in fact, edible, just a bit smaller than the wild ones.

You can make elder flower fritters too by dipping the flower heads in batter and deep frying. I have posted a pic my daughter took on her Forest Schools Course.

One of my favourite plants, David, and the marigolds will look great paired with it.

Saw your pic earlier, Sg, and commented that we usually make pancakes, lol!!

Would add a bit of "zing", methinks, Louise!! Still thinking "Chocolate Orange" here :-))

i love this , would like one myself but not sure i would have room, love the colour

My "black lace" didn't like the winter.... it has no buds and the new growth is pale. I hope it gets better...but right now I'm kinda sad that it's not thriving... Yours looks great though! congrats.

My ornamental elders are growing in containers, Sandra, and easily reach 6ft high and 4 wide in one summer! So, I have to cut them back.

Perhaps the prolonged snow and ice theory being good for at least one plant variety has no basis, Lori? All elders, even the wild native green-leaved and white-flowered ones, here, are outstanding this year - for some reason? I also hope that yours get better. ;-))

I have noticed generally that all the berry producing plants, holly, blackberries etc are all full of flowers, and now berries, which folk lore would indicate means we are in for a bad winter.

Lovely pic :o)

follow up on the black lace, David. It lived out the second summer...small and not doing much, it wintered with my cousin at move time...came to me in the spring looking like a dead stick and it remained that way..sad to say. Guess I'll have to buy another..I have found the red berried sambucus growing very close to the house...going to try to find the fruiting kind as the red berries are very popular with robins, etc. but not very tasty to humans!