Black Lace® Elderberry
Dark, lacy foliage that gives “Japanese maple” impact in a shrub
Black Lace® Elderberry brings instant drama with finely cut, purple-black foliage that looks like living lace. It delivers that high-end, Japanese maple texture—only on a fast, easy shrub that can hold its own in mixed borders, foundation beds, and modern landscapes that need contrast. The leaves stay richly colored through the growing season, especially with plenty of sun, and the plant’s naturally bold silhouette makes it a standout even when it’s not flowering.
Design-wise, it’s a “shortcut” to a layered, intentional look. Use it as a specimen where you want a focal point, or repeat it for rhythm in a long border. It also plays beautifully against bright greens, silver foliage, and chartreuse accents, making nearby plants look more vivid. If your landscape needs a strong anchor with texture, not just another green shrub—Black Lace® is the kind of plant that instantly upgrades the whole bed.
Soft pink blooms that pull pollinators in and soften the dark leaves
In late spring to early summer, Black Lace® produces broad, flattened clusters of tiny blooms that bud pink and open to soft pink-white. Against the dark foliage, the flowers look almost “lit,” adding a gentle, romantic contrast without losing the plant’s bold edge. The bloom display is also a major pollinator moment, bees and butterflies work the flower clusters, bringing movement and life to the garden right as summer begins.
After flowering, berry clusters can follow, adding another layer of seasonal interest and wildlife value. For the most reliable berry set, having another compatible elderberry cultivar (Sambucus nigra) nearby can help. Whether you grow it strictly for ornamental impact or you’re hoping for berries as a bonus, the bloom phase alone is worth the price of admission, fragrant, showy, and genuinely garden-making.
Tough, adaptable growth for borders, hedges, and edible-style landscapes
Black Lace® is a strong performer in full sun to partial shade, with the best foliage color and flowering in fuller sun. It prefers evenly moist, well-drained soil but adapts to many common garden soils (including heavier soils when drainage is reasonable). Once established, it’s more tolerant of short dry spells than many high-impact ornamentals, making it a practical choice for real landscapes, not just perfect ones.
It also works in multiple roles: a focal specimen, a bold deciduous hedge, or a backdrop shrub that makes perennials pop. If you’re designing a pollinator garden or a wildlife border, the flowers and berries add ecological value without sacrificing aesthetics. The key is giving it room to mature and enough sunlight to keep the foliage dark and the overall plant dense and showy.
Simple pruning keeps it full, colorful, and beautifully shaped
Black Lace® responds well to pruning, and that’s good news, because it lets you tailor the size and shape to your space. Prune in late winter to early spring to encourage vigorous new growth (which means fresh foliage and strong flowering potential), or do light shaping right after bloom if you want to refine the silhouette. The goal is to keep the plant open enough for airflow while maintaining a full, layered structure.
For hedging, plan your spacing and then use periodic pruning to encourage branching from the base upward. For specimen use, remove a few older stems at ground level as needed to refresh the shrub and keep the foliage looking clean and vibrant. Done right, Black Lace® becomes the kind of plant that looks more “designed” every year, lush, textured, and confidently dramatic.
Dark, lacy foliage that gives “Japanese maple” impact in a shrub
Black Lace® Elderberry brings instant drama with finely cut, purple-black foliage that looks like living lace. It delivers that high-end, Japanese maple texture—only on a fast, easy shrub that can hold its own in mixed borders, foundation beds, and modern landscapes that need contrast. The leaves stay richly colored through the growing season, especially with plenty of sun, and the plant’s naturally bold silhouette makes it a standout even when it’s not flowering.
Design-wise, it’s a “shortcut” to a layered, intentional look. Use it as a specimen where you want a focal point, or repeat it for rhythm in a long border. It also plays beautifully against bright greens, silver foliage, and chartreuse accents, making nearby plants look more vivid. If your landscape needs a strong anchor with texture, not just another green shrub—Black Lace® is the kind of plant that instantly upgrades the whole bed.
Soft pink blooms that pull pollinators in and soften the dark leaves
In late spring to early summer, Black Lace® produces broad, flattened clusters of tiny blooms that bud pink and open to soft pink-white. Against the dark foliage, the flowers look almost “lit,” adding a gentle, romantic contrast without losing the plant’s bold edge. The bloom display is also a major pollinator moment, bees and butterflies work the flower clusters, bringing movement and life to the garden right as summer begins.
After flowering, berry clusters can follow, adding another layer of seasonal interest and wildlife value. For the most reliable berry set, having another compatible elderberry cultivar (Sambucus nigra) nearby can help. Whether you grow it strictly for ornamental impact or you’re hoping for berries as a bonus, the bloom phase alone is worth the price of admission, fragrant, showy, and genuinely garden-making.
Tough, adaptable growth for borders, hedges, and edible-style landscapes
Black Lace® is a strong performer in full sun to partial shade, with the best foliage color and flowering in fuller sun. It prefers evenly moist, well-drained soil but adapts to many common garden soils (including heavier soils when drainage is reasonable). Once established, it’s more tolerant of short dry spells than many high-impact ornamentals, making it a practical choice for real landscapes, not just perfect ones.
It also works in multiple roles: a focal specimen, a bold deciduous hedge, or a backdrop shrub that makes perennials pop. If you’re designing a pollinator garden or a wildlife border, the flowers and berries add ecological value without sacrificing aesthetics. The key is giving it room to mature and enough sunlight to keep the foliage dark and the overall plant dense and showy.
Simple pruning keeps it full, colorful, and beautifully shaped
Black Lace® responds well to pruning, and that’s good news, because it lets you tailor the size and shape to your space. Prune in late winter to early spring to encourage vigorous new growth (which means fresh foliage and strong flowering potential), or do light shaping right after bloom if you want to refine the silhouette. The goal is to keep the plant open enough for airflow while maintaining a full, layered structure.
For hedging, plan your spacing and then use periodic pruning to encourage branching from the base upward. For specimen use, remove a few older stems at ground level as needed to refresh the shrub and keep the foliage looking clean and vibrant. Done right, Black Lace® becomes the kind of plant that looks more “designed” every year, lush, textured, and confidently dramatic.
Original: $89.95
-70%$89.95
$26.98Description
Dark, lacy foliage that gives “Japanese maple” impact in a shrub
Black Lace® Elderberry brings instant drama with finely cut, purple-black foliage that looks like living lace. It delivers that high-end, Japanese maple texture—only on a fast, easy shrub that can hold its own in mixed borders, foundation beds, and modern landscapes that need contrast. The leaves stay richly colored through the growing season, especially with plenty of sun, and the plant’s naturally bold silhouette makes it a standout even when it’s not flowering.
Design-wise, it’s a “shortcut” to a layered, intentional look. Use it as a specimen where you want a focal point, or repeat it for rhythm in a long border. It also plays beautifully against bright greens, silver foliage, and chartreuse accents, making nearby plants look more vivid. If your landscape needs a strong anchor with texture, not just another green shrub—Black Lace® is the kind of plant that instantly upgrades the whole bed.
Soft pink blooms that pull pollinators in and soften the dark leaves
In late spring to early summer, Black Lace® produces broad, flattened clusters of tiny blooms that bud pink and open to soft pink-white. Against the dark foliage, the flowers look almost “lit,” adding a gentle, romantic contrast without losing the plant’s bold edge. The bloom display is also a major pollinator moment, bees and butterflies work the flower clusters, bringing movement and life to the garden right as summer begins.
After flowering, berry clusters can follow, adding another layer of seasonal interest and wildlife value. For the most reliable berry set, having another compatible elderberry cultivar (Sambucus nigra) nearby can help. Whether you grow it strictly for ornamental impact or you’re hoping for berries as a bonus, the bloom phase alone is worth the price of admission, fragrant, showy, and genuinely garden-making.
Tough, adaptable growth for borders, hedges, and edible-style landscapes
Black Lace® is a strong performer in full sun to partial shade, with the best foliage color and flowering in fuller sun. It prefers evenly moist, well-drained soil but adapts to many common garden soils (including heavier soils when drainage is reasonable). Once established, it’s more tolerant of short dry spells than many high-impact ornamentals, making it a practical choice for real landscapes, not just perfect ones.
It also works in multiple roles: a focal specimen, a bold deciduous hedge, or a backdrop shrub that makes perennials pop. If you’re designing a pollinator garden or a wildlife border, the flowers and berries add ecological value without sacrificing aesthetics. The key is giving it room to mature and enough sunlight to keep the foliage dark and the overall plant dense and showy.
Simple pruning keeps it full, colorful, and beautifully shaped
Black Lace® responds well to pruning, and that’s good news, because it lets you tailor the size and shape to your space. Prune in late winter to early spring to encourage vigorous new growth (which means fresh foliage and strong flowering potential), or do light shaping right after bloom if you want to refine the silhouette. The goal is to keep the plant open enough for airflow while maintaining a full, layered structure.
For hedging, plan your spacing and then use periodic pruning to encourage branching from the base upward. For specimen use, remove a few older stems at ground level as needed to refresh the shrub and keep the foliage looking clean and vibrant. Done right, Black Lace® becomes the kind of plant that looks more “designed” every year, lush, textured, and confidently dramatic.
