Sambucus Nigra

Hi all,

Another shrub that i bought a year ago that seems to have 4/5 long stems a staying pretty low. How do i encourage to bush out and to increace size ?
regards
G

 

Hi Mr G

Cut down to about 6/12 inches to buds or to were buds will grow from.

What part of the garden do you have this in as this one likes the sun , after you have pruned it give it a general fertiliser and a good mulch as it a sappy plant that like its water in the summer, got a feeling doesnt like being in a strong wind scortch's the leaves

Spruce

 

If you cut this down hard then you will lose all or all the flowers that would be produced in June. However, the plant will reward you with lush foliage this year instead.

In time you will have no trouble getting this to a decent size. Shortening the shoots will encourage it to make a framework and bush ut instead of growing upwards. It responds readily to pruning and is very easygoing so if you waited a year it wouldn't harm it and you could still have a bushy plant.

 

I have one,

I trimmed mine as far as I could because it was all over the place.

I like it for the likeness to an Acer but with flowers.

 

I have Sambucus Bblack Lace and its stunning just coming into bud now.

 

Hi Sprucey,

Its in an East facing border. Gets sun in summer from 6am until 1pm. The soil is heavy but well worked with compost. It never really drys out and can be wet in winter. I planted last spring. It done ok and they have big buds on it at the moment but there's only four longish low lenghs. I need it to bush out and go upwards instead of side ways.

G

 

I suspect its just because its only one year old, and been "getting established". I'd let it get on with it by itself for another year, or two even, before "stooling" it to encourage strong growth (if that is what you want, but I do think that works well for Sambucus, otherwise their stems get tired-looking after not-many-seasons IMHO).

Depends a bit what variety of S. nigra it is though, I'm happy that the black-leaved ones just produce leaves, rather than flowers, but for other types the flowers may be as, or more, important.

 

I have 'Black Lace' and 'Black Beauty' and tend to agree with Kristen mine did take a while to establish,they are in quite an exposed site as we live on the top of a hill, I love acers but they just won't grow here they just shrivel and die with the winds, but this is the next best thing,great, one of my favourite shrubs, love the pink flowers against the dark foliage.

Looking at this picture taken last year it could do with a prune though.

 

I probably shouldn't tempt you with this supplier of Sambucus then ... no ... I really should NOT ... Oh! Too Late !!

Online Shop | Buy Plants

 

Crikey Kristen I didn't know there were so many varieties and yes I am very tempted, added to favourites so I can google the ones without pictures, like the look of some of the variegated ones, and of course if I have more I could always have a go at making wine .
A friend sent me some cuttings of one of the gold leaf varieties last autumn and noticed roots in the bottom of the pot yesterday:yess:

 

There's a dark leaf one with the word "Tower" in its name that looks interesting (sorry, can't remember the full name and too lazy to page through their list looking for it)

 

'Pulverentula' is gorgeous, never seen one like it, the prices are really good too, thanks for putting this site on Kristen

 

You sure you mean that? I've deliberately not looked to closely at that site. Darn it ... off to look at "Pulverentula" now :(

 

I have the perfect spot for it, I lost quite a few big shrubs last winter, including a couple of lovely variegated pittospurum and been looking for a couple of variegated shrubs that are a bit different to replace them, even though the elders aren't evergreen 'Pulverentula' would look great :D
Did you find it Kristen

 

As it was Lent I was ever so good and gave up looking it up :thumb:

Mind you, for all the other things "Lent-like" I've given up giving them up this year !!