black elder

Water Black Elder (Sambucus nigra 'Eva' BLACK LACE) once per week in spring and summer. Be sure to provide about 2 inches (5 cm) of water each time, as plants need moisture to remain healthy and produce abundant foliage and flowers. The soil should be kept consistently moist without standing water. Allow the top inch (2.5 cm) of soil to dry out between watering, but don’t let the plant dry out completely. Reduce watering in winter, as the plant is dormant and needs less moisture.

Black Elder (Sambucus nigra 'Eva' BLACK LACE) does best in full sun for 8-10 hours per day, though some dappled shade during the afternoon hours of its growing season (summer) is beneficial. In the winter, it should receive only limited, but still direct, sunlight for 4-6 hours daily.

Black Elder (Sambucus nigra 'Eva' BLACK LACE) should be pruned twice a year. The best time to prune is in the late winter or early spring, when the plant is still in dormancy. Prune out dead, diseased, or weak branches and thin it out by removing older stems to make room for new growth. Cut away any branches that are crisscrossing and competing for sunlight. After pruning, shape the shrub by cutting the stems at an angle to promote outward-facing side shoots. In late summer, after the shrub has finished blooming, prune off the spent flowers, allowing the energy to go back into the plant and promote better blooms for the following season. At this time, you can also thin the shrub if needed, so that the branches are better spaced and are not growing too close to 1 another.