{"product_id":"black-lace-elderberry","title":"Black Lace Elderberry","description":"\u003ch1\u003eNear-Black Lacy Foliage With Fragrant Pink Flowers\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlack Lace Elderberry (\u003cem\u003eSambucus nigra\u003c\/em\u003e 'Eva') is one of the most dramatic shrubs you can grow — deeply cut, near-black, lacy foliage that looks remarkably like a Japanese maple but thrives in Minnesota's cold. In early summer, fragrant pink flower clusters cover the dark leaves for a stunning contrast, followed by dark berries. Tough and deer-resistant, it's a showstopping foliage accent for borders and entryways in Edina, Woodbury, and Maple Grove.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBlack Lace Elderberry Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSambucus nigra 'Eva' (Black Lace)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6–8 ft. tall, 6–8 ft. wide (can be pruned smaller)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness Zone\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — hardy; give it a sheltered spot)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part shade (darkest foliage in sun)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Time\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEarly summer (fragrant pink flowers)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlower Color\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFragrant pink, over near-black foliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdaptable — tolerates clay and moist soil; prefers rich, moist ground\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable in zone 4; mulch the base in exposed sites\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRarely browsed by deer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFinely cut, near-black, maple-like\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eLandscape Uses in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDramatic foliage specimen:\u003c\/strong\u003e Its dark, lacy leaves make a bold focal point — a hardy stand-in for a Japanese maple. Space 6–8 feet apart, or prune to keep it smaller.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage contrast and pollinators:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stunning against gold and chartreuse foliage; the fragrant flowers feed pollinators. Pair with gold-foliage shrubs and bright perennials.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in spring (late April–May) or early fall (late August–mid September) into rich, moist soil. Water through establishment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Black Lace Elderberry\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDig a hole twice the root ball width at the same depth, mixing in compost. Set the crown level, backfill, water well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep. Space 6–8 feet apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Black Lace Elderberry\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst year:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water deeply every 2–3 days at first, then weekly. Stop 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAfter year one:\u003c\/strong\u003e Prefers consistent moisture; water during dry spells. Prune in late winter to control size and intensify foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Does it really look like a Japanese maple?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes — its finely cut, near-black foliage gives the look of a Japanese maple but with zone-4 hardiness Japanese maples can't match here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt's hardy to zone 4; in exposed sites give it a sheltered spot and mulch the base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Are the berries edible?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlack elderberries should be cooked before eating; raw fruit and other parts are not for raw consumption.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Is it deer-resistant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes — deer rarely browse elderberry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLaced Up Elderberry (Sambucus nigra):\u003c\/strong\u003e A columnar near-black elderberry for tight spaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSutherland Gold Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa):\u003c\/strong\u003e A golden lacy-leaved elderberry for contrast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNinebark (Physocarpus):\u003c\/strong\u003e A native shrub with dark-foliage options.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Black Lace Elderberry Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlack Lace is a specimen-scale shrub (6–8 feet tall and wide). One plant makes a complete focal point near an entry, patio, or border corner — give it a 7–8 foot circle. For an informal flowering screen along a property line, space plants 5–6 feet apart so they knit together; a pairing of one Black Lace with two gold-foliage shrubs (rather than a row of three dark ones) keeps the dark leaves reading as an accent instead of a shadow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBlack Lace Elderberry Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Finely cut foliage emerges dark and lacy in May — late-winter pruning done before this push intensifies leaf color and controls size.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fragrant soft-pink flower clusters smother the near-black leaves in early summer — the signature contrast — while pollinators work the blooms.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clusters of dark berries follow the flowers (cook before eating; the birds will take most of them), and the foliage holds its dusky color until frost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stems go bare; a mulched base carries it through exposed-site winters, and any winter dieback can simply be pruned off in late winter — it regrows fast.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Rain-Garden \/ Wet-Soil\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/sutherland-gold-elderberry\"\u003eSutherland Gold Elderberry\u003c\/a\u003e — golden lacy foliage that makes the classic near-black-and-gold pairing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/lemon-lace-elderberry\"\u003eLemon Lace Elderberry\u003c\/a\u003e — a fine-textured chartreuse elderberry for bright contrast at a smaller scale.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/laced-up-elderberry\"\u003eLaced Up Elderberry\u003c\/a\u003e — the same near-black lace in a narrow column for tight spots nearby.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/diabolo-ninebark\"\u003eDiabolo Ninebark\u003c\/a\u003e — a tough native-species shrub that echoes the dark-foliage theme with white June flowers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Black Lace Elderberry Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Black Lace if you have full sun to light shade (sun gives the darkest leaves), rich soil that stays evenly moist, and room for a 6–8 foot statement shrub — it shrugs off deer and delivers Japanese-maple looks with true zone-4 toughness. It's not a fit for hot, dry, sandy sites that go weeks without water, and in very exposed, windswept spots expect some winter tip dieback (easily pruned off in spring).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#3 Gallon","offer_id":54313078030641,"sku":null,"price":45.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/black-lace-elderberry.jpg?v=1779727885","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/black-lace-elderberry","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}