Dramatic Black Lace Elder adds depth and contrast to the garden.

The native shrub, elderberry, solid green, with white flowers, is already quite a winner with a naturally decorative growth habit. A recent cultivar of the native elder is Black Lace Elderberry, and it’s definitely a shrub that’s got massive presence. The finely-cut leaves are a rich, purpley-black, with large pinkish-white flowers in mid-summer, and dark berries in autumn. As it’s such a dark colour, it makes an excellent backdrop for other, lighter plants, offering great contrast. Dark plants like this look fantastic paired with lime green or chartreuse If you have a full sun location, and room for a fairly large shrub, the Black Lace Elderberry can make a dramatic statement in your garden.