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.
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
Requirements
Hardiness | 3 – 7 |
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Heat Zones | 1 – 7 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, A2, A3 |
Plant Type | Shrubs |
Plant Family | Sambucus – Elder |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Mid) |
Height | 3' – 5' (90cm – 150cm) |
Spread | 3' – 5' (90cm – 150cm) |
Spacing | 36″ – 72″ (90cm – 180cm) |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Maintenance | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy, Fruit & Berries |
Tolerance | Clay Soil, Deer |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens |
Garden Styles | Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage |