The one I planted here in zone 6b in your area was decimated by deer the week it went in.. Be forewarned if you have them too..

That's weird, because we have issues with elderberry (z7) not liking the heat...well maybe winter hardiness zones have little to do with heat zones. I must remember that ;) However, I find elderberries to be tough customers and I would bet that a strong plant will do just fine. Even if pruned to ground, they can get five feet and flower in a single year (I think I remember this and am not making up from whole cloth).

Thanks for the heads up regarding deer damage. There are deer in my area. Sometimes they feast on my plants and other times they walk right by without eating a thing. Hard to figure out.

My experience was similar to Kitasei. It may be the only plant that was eaten before I got a chance to plant it.

It was the same with a black sumac... Yet they have never touched a lemon elderberry or the canadensis.

I guess it's better that it was eaten right out of the pot. It would be heartbreaking if it was one of your favorite shrubs only to wake up one morning to see it totally destroys.

The deer haven't touched my plants for the last couple of years. I have been pushing my luck by gradually planting more and more deer candy. In the back of my mind I know my luck will run out.

i have a black lace and black beauty in 3rd. leaf in zone 3b with no dieback. got some berries on them but didn't ripen fully. maybe next year. beautiful plants,