12 years or so ago I planted a golden sambucus nigra but it has really struggled with the last few hard winters and is now, finally, no more. However, its purple leaved cousin, Black Lace, planted a few years later, is doing very well just 30 feet along in the same sort of place. It has now grown quite tall and the autumn before last I lifted its canopy by cutting out all the lower branches to head height. It now makes a very good small tree with dappled shade beneath for things like hellebores and ferns and hostas.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I grew Black Lace a few years ago. It looked like a lovely small Japanese maple in the garden centre but it grew into a very thirsty big shrub, much bigger than the space I had allocated to it, so out it came after a year. Regular hard pruning in autumn/ early spring apparently reduces the amount of flowers, as it flowers best on year old wood, from what I understand. Maybe Obelixx can put me straight on that if I am wrong.
I think you're right Goldilocks. Mine certainly had far fewer flowers last year after the major hacking but it has recovered well and I expect normal service this year and yes, it does look like a maple till it blooms.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Thanks for all the information and advice, it has been really useful. I will try and take a couple of cuttings and next year will move the one at the front to the back garden and cut it back hard.
I've just found a cutting I took a couple of years ago has turned into a decent siezd shrub about 30 feet the other way along the border in a more sheltered position.
Happy Obxx. Good luck with yours.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I have to sort out my daughters garden it is very waterlogged, so I have bought a golden sambuca, some carex grasses, Lobelia cardinalis anything else that will do well in these conditions
Astilbes, hemerocallis, chelone, primulas especially candelabra types, hostas, astilboides, ornamental rhubarb, rodgersia, iris sibirica, gunnera if you can protect the crown from winter frosts as it's not very hardy...........
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
Thanks Laura. Mine has spent a year or two at a friends neglectedly crammed into a small flowerpot so it looks as if it'll soon be racing away.
12 years or so ago I planted a golden sambucus nigra but it has really struggled with the last few hard winters and is now, finally, no more. However, its purple leaved cousin, Black Lace, planted a few years later, is doing very well just 30 feet along in the same sort of place. It has now grown quite tall and the autumn before last I lifted its canopy by cutting out all the lower branches to head height. It now makes a very good small tree with dappled shade beneath for things like hellebores and ferns and hostas.
I grew Black Lace a few years ago. It looked like a lovely small Japanese maple in the garden centre but it grew into a very thirsty big shrub, much bigger than the space I had allocated to it, so out it came after a year. Regular hard pruning in autumn/ early spring apparently reduces the amount of flowers, as it flowers best on year old wood, from what I understand. Maybe Obelixx can put me straight on that if I am wrong.
I think you're right Goldilocks. Mine certainly had far fewer flowers last year after the major hacking but it has recovered well and I expect normal service this year and yes, it does look like a maple till it blooms.
Thanks for all the information and advice, it has been really useful. I will try and take a couple of cuttings and next year will move the one at the front to the back garden and cut it back hard.
Again thanks for the chat.
regards
Chris
I've just found a cutting I took a couple of years ago has turned into a decent siezd shrub about 30 feet the other way along the border in a more sheltered position.
Happy Obxx. Good luck with yours.
I have to sort out my daughters garden it is very waterlogged, so I have bought a golden sambuca, some carex grasses, Lobelia cardinalis anything else that will do well in these conditions
Astilbes, hemerocallis, chelone, primulas especially candelabra types, hostas, astilboides, ornamental rhubarb, rodgersia, iris sibirica, gunnera if you can protect the crown from winter frosts as it's not very hardy...........