The Black Lace Elderberry, botanically known as Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’, is a striking deciduous shrub. This cultivar is distinguished by its intensely dark purple-black, finely dissected foliage, which creates a delicate, lace-like texture similar to that of a Japanese maple. In early summer, the dark leaves provide a backdrop for clusters of creamy pink, lemon-scented flowers. Primarily grown as a specimen plant, screen, or border accent, ‘Black Lace’ offers a unique color and texture contrast in the landscape.
Site Selection and Initial Planting
Selecting the proper location is important for cultivating the deepest, darkest foliage color in your Black Lace Elderberry. The shrub performs best in a position that receives full sun. While the plant can tolerate partial shade, insufficient light will cause the distinctive dark purple leaves to revert to a duller green hue.
The ideal soil should be consistently moist yet well-drained. It thrives in a slightly acidic to neutral pH range, ideally between 6.0 and 7.0. When planting, the hole should be dug twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper, helping the roots spread easily into the loosened surrounding soil. The shrub should be planted at the same depth it was growing in its nursery container, and the backfilled soil can be amended with compost or organic matter to improve nutrient content.
Essential Ongoing Maintenance
Consistent moisture is important for the Black Lace Elderberry, especially during its first year of establishment and throughout dry periods. Deep and regular watering encourages a strong root system. Once the shrub is fully established, it shows some tolerance for drier conditions, but supplemental irrigation is needed during prolonged drought.
Mulching helps to retain soil moisture and regulate ground temperature. Apply a two- to three-inch layer of organic mulch, such as wood chips or shredded bark, around the base of the plant. Keep the mulch six inches away from the main stems to prevent moisture from accumulating directly against the bark, which can lead to fungal issues. Fertilization is generally minimal for established plants, but a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer can be applied in early spring before new growth appears, particularly in nutrient-poor soils.
Specialized Pruning Techniques
Pruning is an important practice for the ‘Black Lace’ cultivar, directly influencing its size, shape, and the intensity of its foliage color. The optimal time for pruning is in late winter or very early spring, before the onset of new growth. Elderberries generally bloom on new wood, so early pruning minimizes the loss of the current season’s flowers.
To achieve the deepest purple foliage color and a dense, shrubby habit, hard or rejuvenation pruning is recommended. This involves cutting all or most stems back severely every few years. This vigorous cut forces the plant to produce a flush of new growth, which exhibits the most intense dark coloration. Choosing this method may reduce or eliminate the creamy pink flower clusters and subsequent berries for that year.
The shrub can be maintained in a more natural, upright form by selectively thinning out the oldest stems. Removing about one-third of the oldest stems down to the ground each year encourages new stem development and maintains vigor without sacrificing all flowering potential. To train the plant into a small, single- or multi-trunked tree form, a central trunk can be selected and competing stems removed, gradually clearing lower branches as the plant grows taller. Regardless of the method, pruning out suckers—the vertical shoots arising from the roots—will prevent the plant from spreading.
Managing Pests and Common Issues
The Black Lace Elderberry is generally resilient but can be affected by pests and diseases. Common insect pests include aphids, which are small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth, and spider mites, which thrive in hot, dry conditions. A strong blast of water from a hose can often dislodge minor aphid infestations. For more persistent problems, an application of insecticidal soap or neem oil is an effective treatment option.
Diseases that may affect the shrub include cankers, leaf spot, and powdery mildew. Cankers cause dieback and are often managed by pruning out the affected stems several inches below the visible discoloration. Prevention is the most effective approach for fungal issues, which involves ensuring good air circulation by proper spacing and avoiding overhead watering. Verticillium wilt, a soil-borne fungus, can cause branch wilting and dieback, which necessitates the removal and destruction of the infected plants.