Help much appreciated

As a new member to the gardening fraternity, I would welcome some advice about my Sambucus nigra Black Lace. He is in a pot and I've had him about 4 years now and has done fantastically well each year.

However, this year he hasn't flowered at all and his foliage is looking decidely sparse. I'm wondering if I should prune him or move him to a bigger pot (or both!).

Any help gratefully received.

 

This plant is fabulous, i've got 2 here :D

To keep this plant potted you have to make sure the pot is huge because this is a tree that you're growing and it can't develop properly in a pot that's under about 3 or 4 foot wide and deep - it's roots are vast.

The kindest thing you can do is let it go free and plant it out in the ground where it can be natural.
It wants to grow to about 8' tall and about 5' wide so if it was me i'd set it free, it seems cruel to keep it restricted

Pruning always makes a plant produce more growth but if the pot's restricting it - and after a year or so it will be crying out for repotting - then repot it and prune it a bit.

 

Hi There

Many thanks for that - I suspected as much, he was only a tiny chap when I got him

As if by luck, I'm relandscaping an area at the back of our house and think this will be perfect for him - out of the wind, plenty of sun and shade.

Will set him free asap.

 

Why do you say he and not she?

 

Cause it has dangly bits........ ( the berries )