After dying back to the ground last year, this year all the branches all are leafing out. I don't see much die back at all. It's also in an exposed location, south side of the house.

I think the snowpack really helped a lot of the marginal, or "die-back" shrubs this winter. My Endless Summer Hydrangeas are leafing out a good 2 feet up the stems. That has never happened before.

I have the regular elderberry, my experience has been that it does die to the ground in the winter for the first year or two. After that it seems to be very strong and vigorous. I would kind of expect the same behavior from BLE. It's worth it for the flowers alone!

I fenced mine in this past winter to keep animals from pruning it though with the amount of snow cover that may have been unnecessary. There was no die back and it has leafed out along all the stems.

Mine is doing well, it died back last winter and this past winter, but both springs it came back nicely.

I have mine in an area between the garage and the propane tank, so kinda protected. It's not real tall yet, but it will be in time.

Now the wild elderberry....well, that's another story. They cannot be killed! LOL

Linda