Wowwwww, lucky you, excellent find!

I wonder if they have any at S. Edm. Common. I'll have to pop over there tomorrow and take a look. Very pretty, lioninthelake, but all the info. I've been able to find is Z4 or more. Just wondering what research you have found on their hardiness? Is this a zone pusher?

Shauna

I visited Superstore as well, and saw black lace just sitting on a shelf, sort of crammed together. My Supestore definitely has to work on their stock presentation.

I debated on buying it, but don't really have a spot. My mind works in strange ways however, as I thought nothing of buying a gold sensation barberry.

Anyways, regarding black lace, not sure how hardy they are. It's sambucus nigra 'black lace' isn't it? If so, most sources say zone 4. I do have another sambucus nigra, 'aureomarginata' and it always seems to winter kill to the snow line. It hasn't been planted long enough for me to judge just how much growth it pushes out per season, however.

FYI, speaking of sambucus, my Sutherland elder survived winter just fine. I moved it this spring to give it a space with more room and it's currently leafed out and about to bloom. Not bad for a one foot high shrub.

Glen

Mine is all leafed-out too (Sambucus 'Sutherland Gold'), the first of my shrubs to do so. I read an article about Black Lace last year and i believe we've talked about it here before. Anyway, it was touted as the "Japanese Maple for the North". Can't remember the zone ratings they gave it, though.

I'm probably going to treat this as a zone pusher until the verdict is in for our area. With that said, however, I have zone 4 perennials that overwinter fine here.

I will probably play it safe this upcoming winter and provide some protection - I really don't mind considering I have several tender roses in the yard that need babying.

I just pulled through a Traviata rose (romantica) despite taunting on the rose forum that I received last summer when I bought it.

Where there is a will, there is a way!

I bought one a few weeks ago. They're gorgous plants! The card says they are hardy to zone 4-8, -30F/-35C. They can reach a height of 6-8' and spread up to 6'. Marg

Well, I saw a nice flat of them at Extra Foods today and I bought one too. They sure were in excellent shape. Hope they winter over because as Marric said they are zone 4 but since I have a spot for it, after I move 10-12 other plants, it should look good

Same here guys and gals, I saw one at the supermarket and it's the first time I've seen one in my area, just had to have it. I have a great spot for it and I think it's going to be fantastic.............Wayne

Yippy, today I found a Sambucus nigra Black Lace at my local Extra Foods for $14.98 too!
I'm going to try to overwinter it in a large pot in the pumphouse thou, I'm sure it wouldn't survive in my zone 2 acreage garden ;)

Did yours come in a Proven Winners white pot?

Sambucus racemosa 'Sutherland Gold' is on my wish list too ;)

Sharon

Yes, mine came in the same pot. Looks like "Sutherland Gold will also have to go on my list

After seeing this post and then seeing the plant, I had to buy one today. I picked mine up at Extra Foods. Very nice.

How did everyone's Black Lace shrubs fare? I bought one today and am curious on how everyone else's survived. Mine will be planted in a very sheltered location a couple of feet from the south foundation of the house, so it will at least be sheltered from the winter wind.

Hi Pudge. I bought mine in spring of '06 so it has been through two winters. This year it did the same as last. It freezes down to about 10" to 12". Right now, it is about 30" high and growing quickly. Last year it grew about 6' high and looked really good. For me, it's a keeper!

I had mine planted in a container and overwintered in the pumphouse for two years, this spring it went into the shrub bed, will see how it does next spring.

Sharon

Hi all,
I was looking for that one too.
I had seen them here too at Extra Foods, but the price they're charging us here in The Pas is $24.98. That's quite a markup and I've noticed all of their other shrubs and perennials are quite expensive. Maybe if they actually watered them when them come in and didn't have half of them die, they could sell them for a similar price you get them for...
I felt so sad earlier this spring walking through and seeing so many plants just dried to the bone...
They brought in awhole lot of the Emerald cedars earlier last month and didn't water them... they were $19.99 for a six foot plant and now they're on for $4.94 each, because they are pretty much half dead...
They really need someone who knows plants to help out because I see shade plants out in the full sun...
I might pick a Black Lace Elder up if they drop the price and it looks like it might make it...

BTW what's happened to the Hemerocallis '08 thread?
I can't access it.

Rob

Rob, the Hemerocallis thread takes awhile to load up for me too, but it does after a couple of minutes. I guess we, daylily fanatics are too long winded!lol

I've had my Black Lace elder on the south side of the house for two winters now and it's doing great. It died back this spring right down to ground level pretty much, and it's already 3' tall now. Last spring I remember it coming back from some of the old wood about 12" down. My sister also has had one come back one winter for her and she's in zone 2a, so I think this elder is far more hardy than what the sources claim.

Thanks, all. Sounds like good reports and it is such a nice looking shrub, I hope I have some success with it, too.

I planted 2 of them. Both springs they have died right to ground level. Black Beauty acts the same way.
I guess our experiences are consistent.
Shelley