I've not had a problem with it suckering (it's my first year growing Sutherland Gold). I've grown several other varieties and have never had suckering problems either. I'll cut it down to 6 inches in the late fall to keep the height down.

I wouldn't use mine as a container plant since it's leaves will be dropping off soon, and the twigs would be a boring winter container. Better off in the landscape.

I grew one of the purple elderberries--can't remember which one--and it was stunted by the experience. It was in a pot for four years and is now, finally, in the ground, but it is still not growing much at all. The good news is that it is a cute little thing, but it is certainly much, much smaller than it would be if I had started it in the ground.