Sambucus Nigra Black Lace

dobrien

Hi, i have acquired a Sambucus Nigra Black Lace plant and wanted to know if it is safe to plant beneath a window without affecting the house.

although i love gardening, i am not particularly knowledgeable about plants and shrubs (hence why so many have died in my hands!) but this is such a lovely plant that i want to make sure i dont kill it off!

thanks for any help

Paul B3

These are very vigorous shrubs indeed ; what grows above also grows below !

Personally I'd think twice about planting too close to a house-wall .

dobrien

thank you very much for the advice Paul. i'll find somewhere else for it.

Bijdezee

I've grown one in a large pot before. You need to water it a lot and it will only be good for about 2/3 years. Depends how big it is now. You could try that and move it or plant it out in the garden when it's too big.

I'm going to do it again this year as I have two cuttings of my own growing on well. 

Helix

They are lovely plants if given the space they need to grow and flower.  We bought a tiny twig that was supposed to be black lace, but turned out to be thundercloud.  Also nice, but not as nice! And you can make a beautiful pink elderflower cordial from them.  Chop back at least a third of the shoots every year to keep it in check.

Green Magpie

They're not as vigorous as the common elder, but I still wouldn't put one under a window, it won't stay small. It's a lovely shrub, a good contrast with most others.

Hostafan1

unless it's a first floor window , I'd not. they can get way higher than a ground floor window.

jaffacakes

How quickly would black lace grow? Have common elderberry but think this variety looks lovely. Would hope to see it get to maybe 6 foot in 3 years from a 2 litre container? I have read that people cut these back to the ground every year. I guess this is to keep them smaller.