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Best dark-leaved sambucus to grow?

AndrewR

By Andrewr

Berkshire, England

I'm thinking of planting a dark-leaved sambucus (elder) and growing it for foliage effect so it will be hard pruned on a regular basis. Does anyone grow any of these? How dark is the leaf colour, are you growing it in sun or shade, and do you cut it back?


On plant Sambucus


Answers

 

I ve got one that I split a couple of years ago, so now I have two.
Really dark leaves, one grows in sun/semi shade the other grows well in shade by my tree ferns.

I trim them back just for shape as and when I need too. Mainly early spring but also through out the year if required.

You can see one of them Andrew on one of my latest garden pics of my front garden. It is in the left hand border just behind the badger.

8 May, 2009

 

Mine is also in the shade for most of the day, and it's great. Sambucus nigra 'Black Beauty'. There's another one with lacy leaves, but I preferred this one. It has pink clusters of flowers. I trim it in early spring, if it needs it.

8 May, 2009

 

I had a Nigra 'Black Beauty' in another house and I loved it.

8 May, 2009

 

I have "Black Beauty", with normal, elderberry shaped foliage, and also "Black Lace" (the lacier-leafed variety. Both grow in semi-shade. I trim very seldom, and really like the flowers and dark berries.

19 May, 2009

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