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BLACK
BEAUTY™ (Sambucus nigra 'Gerda')
HARDINESS:
USDA Zones 4 to 8
CONTACT:
Tim Wood, Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. 1-800-633-8859 , fax 1-800-224-1628
ORIGIN:
Developed by Ken
Tobutt and Jacqui Prevette of the HRI - East Malling Research Station in
England.
ORNAMENTAL
FEATURES: A breakthrough plant with intriguing dark black foliage.
Not only does this plant make ‘Guincho Purple’ extinct, but it totally
changes your perception of Sambucus. The leaf color does not fade to green in
summer, but actually gets darker. Loads of lemon scented, rich pink flowers in
late June – early July that contrast wonderfully with the foliage.
HABIT
/ GROWTH RATE: Grow it as a shrub, or cut it back each year and use
it as a bold perennial, or train it into a small patio tree. Vigorous growth,
6 to 10 feet tall by 4 feet wide.
CULTURE:
Full sun, soil adaptable, drought and flood tolerant. This
colorful shrub can be grown several ways depending upon what you want to
accomplish. If you have space to let it grow, then you can treat it as a large
shrub. Prune it as a young plant to build a body and then let it go. In the
perennial garden you can prune it back hard just after it finishes blooming.
This results in a smaller plant more appropriate for smaller gardens. You can
also train Black Beauty into a small patio tree by removing the lower branches
and leaves and selecting one to three strong, straight trunks. This can also be
very beautiful. HOW IT DIFFERS: Dark black foliage and pink flowers are unique to all Sambucus!. Superior color to ‘Guincho Purple’ which is dark purple-green in the spring but fades to green. LANDSCAPE NICHE / VALUE: Great for added bold color and texture. Use in the mixed border or as a specimen.
PESTS:
None serious
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