Sambucus By C.L. Fornari Latin name: Sambucus nigra 'Gerda' Common name: Black Beauty Elder  Size: 6 to 8 feet tall and wide Favored growing conditions: Grow in full sun to part sun – tolerates a wide range of soil types.  Flower color: Light pink. Dark Purple berries that feed songbirds in the fall. Hardiness: Zones 4 – 8 (I have seen it listed as hardy in 3 – let me know if this is hardy for you folks in North Country!) Pros: Purple leaves! Purple leaves! Purple Leaves! OK, the pink flowers and fruit are nice too, but let’s face it… this plant is valuable for it’s foliage alone.  Cons: This plant grows large and looks best when allowed to develop its natural shape, so it may not be the best plant for those who have a small yard or like their shrubs “under control.” Not a good foundation plant.  Comments: Probably best used in mixed shrub border, where it can be planted with shrubs of assorted sizes and foliage colors, as suggested below.  Suggested companion plants: Spirea thunbergii “Ogon” (fine textured yellow foliage) or Salix integra 'Hakuro-nishiki' (fine textured variegated foliage) and Hydrangea quercifolia - oakleaf hydrangea (bold texture and later bloom time – great fall color)

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