Sambucus racemosa Lemony Lace® (Elderberry)

Noted for its golden foliage, Sambucus racemosa Lemony Lace® (Elderberry) is a compact, deciduous shrub adorned with a luminous lacy foliage of deeply dissected leaves. Emerging bright yellow with red edges in spring, the foliage turns attractive chartreuse and forms a dense, irregular mound of extremely fine texture. In mid-spring, abundant clusters of white flowers are produced before the leaves. They give way to red fruit that attracts birds in the fall. Colorful from spring through fall, this easy-to-grow shrub looks wonderful in mixed borders or as a high-impact specimen plant. Will tolerate full sun in northern climates, but prefers light shade in warmer areas.

• Grows up to 3-5 ft. tall and wide (90-150 cm).
• Performs best in full sun or part shade, in moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils.
• Excellent choice as a single specimen plant, for mixed borders, informal screens, or hedges.
• May be subject to verticillium wilt, blackfly, and glasshouse red spider mite. Deer resistant.
• Propagate by softwood cuttings or hardwood cuttings.
• Benefits from hard pruning as a young plant to develop a nice full habit. Older plants can be trimmed after flowering. This plant blooms on old wood, so spring pruning will reduce flower production.
• All parts may cause discomfort if ingested
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Elderberries belong to the Sambucus genus in the Adoxaceae family, which includes about 5 to 10 species (plus several subspecies and varieties). The most popular are Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra), Red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa), Blue elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. caerulea, also published as Sambucus cerulea), and American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis).