A Shrub That’s Dark & Handsome

By Sarah Battersby

/Jun 25 2013


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

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.