Page 18 - Town & Around - May 2025

18 Town & Around May 2025 Tel: 01485 540620 email: editor@townandaround.net
Wendy Warner’s plant of the month - Sambucas

uring March I am looking out for the patios and garden furniture! flushed blooms and Sambucus nigra 'Black
first signs of life in my deciduous Sambucus are quite vigorous so should be Beauty’ has the same pink flowers and dark
Dshrubs to ensure they have survived given plenty of space and grown towards the leaves but the traditional elder shape – both
the winter, and one of the later ones which back of a border or as a stand-alone specimen. grow 2.5 - 4m.
always keeps me on tenterhooks is the They can be pruned annually to maintain
Sambucus or Elderflower. The near black tips shape or to keep them to a manageable size.
of my Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' are more They will grow in most soil types, except very
difficult to notice than those of other shrubs dry, and prefer full sun where they will exhibit
with their fresh green shoots, but I breath a the best leaf colour but can tolerate light
sigh of relief as soon as I see them! shade. Due to their vigorous nature,
Elder or elderberries are relatively easy Sambucus are best planted in the ground but
shrubs or trees to grow. The native elders in could be grown in a very large container in
the countryside produce frothy creamy-white, John Innes No. 3 compost, and fed with
musky-scented, flat flowerheads in May and bonemeal or fish, blood and bone in spring
June followed by clusters of tiny red berries and autumn.
that ripen to glossy black in late August.
Many cultivars have dark purple leaves and
pink flowers, whilst others have golden
leaves. Traditional elders have strong Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’ has
smelling glossy green leaves divided into 5-7 bright golden-yellow dissected leaves and
leaflets. Some of the darker leaved varieties creamy-white flowers followed by glossy red
have more feathery or filigree foliage. berries in autumn. Sambucus nigra
They suit most styles of gardening and can 'Marginata' has attractive green and cream
have an informal look in a cottage garden or variegated leaves with a yellow margin and
the darker leaved types can be used in a more white flowers followed by black berries.
contemporary setting. They will withstand If you have the space, add a Sambucus to
coastal conditions and are a welcome addition your garden and if it produces enough
to any wildlife garden with the flowers being flowers, you can always try making some
beneficial for bees, butterflies and moths and elderflower wine or cordial in the early
the berries attracting the birds – although Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' has very summer or elderberry wine with the berries in
beware, the after effects can cause stains on finely cut, almost black foliage with pink- the autumn.