Growing a climber through sambucus nigra
Hi,
I have a decent sized sambucus nigra, which is still growing. it's about 2.5 / 3m high and 2/2.5m or so wide now.
I'm wondering if I can extend the interest of the tree by having a climber come through it. The foliage is brilliant and the flowers lovely but they don't last long, and fade to a brown.
Don't mind when it flowers, wondering if it's best to look for one that flowers after June, or maybe even a winter flowerer before June?
I also have no idea if this is a good idea at all, don't want the tree to die it's one of my faves 
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You may like to take a look at this thread I started back in Feb this year.
http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/plants/views-on-plant-combination---black-elder-and-clematis/993424.html
I was asking about growing a later flowering clematis through Sambucus Nigra. I thought a Group 3 clematis would be the best bet because they need to be pruned hard back in spring - the same time I cut back the Sambucus every year.
I didn't actually get around to planting anything this year - mainly because I had made 2 large borders close to the Sambucus and I wanted to see how everything looked when it was all planted up and flowering.
I've now decided that a pale blue late flowering clematis will work well with the rest of the planting. "Hanna" might fit the bill..
A light pink or lilac (similar shades to the actual elder flower) would also look nice but the light blue will work better with the colours I have there.
Ah brilliant thanks for the info !
The sambucus will be underplanted with Geranium 'Patricia' so I'll go hunting for either a darker pink-purple or lighter tone of pink that patricia has
Oh another question with regards to aspect ... given a lot of the foliage would be covered by the sambucus, what would this be classed as for the climber? part shade? (the mid to top half of the sambucus is in full sun)
In my situation the lower half of the tree is in shade, and where the climber would be planted would be shaded also.
Clematis generally like their feet in the shade and their heads in the sun so I think most would be ok.
If you can find one you like that is more shade tolerant that would probably be the way to go.
'Little Nell' looks like it could be the one!