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Sambuca nigra black lace disappointing flowers.

BusylizBusyliz Posts: 149
in Problem solving
Gardeners. My black lace had two measly flower heads this year, for the second year running.  It was mulched and fed in the spring. What am I doing wrong? It's in a sunny position.  Thanks.
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  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Hello @Busyliz it may not be any consolation but my Black Lace is similar - quite pathetic in fact. I am putting it down to the weird weather conditions we've had over the last two seasons.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • BusylizBusyliz Posts: 149
    Thanks ladybird. That's kinda comforting. At least the foliage is pleasant to look at until next year!
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Yes indeed, stunning foliage. I have a golden one as well. No flowers at all on that one, but it is still quite tiny.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I planted mine probably 10 years ago.
    It did take 2-3 years to establish and another couple of years for me to realise not to cut the whole thing down to the ground each spring, but now it grows almost too vigorously. 

    There is quite a thicket of stems from the ground and in the spring I take out several of the oldest completely, then I prune the rest of the stems to varying heights from about 1ft to about 4ft and trim back any other long branches - it's these stems that produce the flowers for the current season.
    I give it a mulch of home made compost in the spring and that's it for the year.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Thanks for the tip @Pete.8  
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I prune my two differently to @Pete.8 - all branches back quite hard in February.
    Here they are today, about 2 to 3 times the height they were pruned to and flowering nicely. No special feeding (the whole border gets a sprinkling of chicken poo pellets when I think about it, I think it was early April last time) and no watering except rain, which has been in short supply until a few days ago. The one on the right looks a bit thin because it lost a branch when it was really windy a few weeks ago. Unfortunately I have no idea why yours might be reluctant to flower. Maybe a lot of nitrogen-rich feed makes them concentrate on foliage?
      


    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • BusylizBusyliz Posts: 149
    Thanks Pete. I'll try that next year.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Very healthy looking shrubs @JennyJ
    Yes, so long as there is some older wood with buds above ground they'll flower from that. It's when then whole thing is cut to the ground and it has to start over, then no flowers until the following year.

    Mine took a battering in a huge hail shower yesterday, but picking well today.

    Good luck @Busyliz - fingers x'ed



    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • BusylizBusyliz Posts: 149
    Pleased to report that after much tlc over the last 11 months, my black lace has produced lots of flower buds. I will post a pic when they develop. Thanks again for all your input.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Good to hear :)
    look forward to the pics

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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