Lemony Lace Elderberry is a distinctive and appealing plant for diverse home landscapes. This deciduous shrub offers unique ornamental qualities. Its popularity stems from its striking appearance and adaptability. It adds vibrant interest to outdoor spaces throughout the growing seasons.
Key Characteristics for Landscape Design
Lemony Lace Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa ‘SMNSRD4’) presents finely cut, bright golden-yellow foliage. Its leaves emerge in spring with a bright yellow hue, often red-edged, then transition to golden, and can soften to chartreuse or lime green depending on sun exposure. This shrub typically reaches a mature height of 3 to 7 feet tall and wide, forming an airy, mounding habit. In mid-spring, it produces white flower clusters, followed by bright red berries in fall, adding seasonal interest. Its deeply dissected foliage provides a delicate, lace-like texture, contrasting effectively with broader-leaved plants.
Planting and Care for Landscape Success
Site selection is key for successful cultivation. It thrives in full sun to partial shade, needing 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and color. In warmer climates, some afternoon shade can be beneficial, though it may slightly reduce flower production.
It prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil (slightly acidic to neutral), but adapts to various soil types, including clay. When planting, dig a hole twice as wide and the same depth as the root ball, ensuring the crown is level with the ground. Backfill with soil and compost, then water thoroughly.
Consistent watering is important, especially during establishment and dry spells, to keep soil damp but not waterlogged. Once established, it demonstrates some drought tolerance.
Pruning is best done in late winter or early spring before new growth to maintain shape and vigor. Older plants can be trimmed after flowering. Since it blooms on old wood, heavy spring pruning can reduce flower and berry production. It is generally resistant to most pests and diseases, though occasional issues include aphids, spider mites, powdery mildew, and verticillium wilt.
Creative Landscape Applications
Lemony Lace Elderberry offers versatility for various landscape designs. It performs well as a specimen plant, drawing attention with its bright foliage and texture. Its mounding habit and moderate size suit mixed borders, providing strong contrast against darker or broader-leaved plants. It can also form a low, informal hedge or screen, creating a vibrant boundary. Mass plantings create a sea of golden foliage, resembling a miniature sun.
Combining it with other plants enhances its distinctive qualities. Planting it alongside varieties like ‘Black Lace’ elderberry or ‘Tiny Wine’ ninebark creates striking visual contrast with their dark foliage. Its fine texture and bright color also complement broad-leaved evergreens or plants with deep green hues. Its red berries in fall attract birds, making it a good addition to wildlife gardens. It can mimic a Japanese maple’s delicate appearance, offering a similar aesthetic without the same specific care.
Why Choose Lemony Lace Elderberry
Lemony Lace Elderberry is a compelling choice for landscapes due to its advantages. It is low-maintenance, requiring minimal intervention once established. It is deer resistant, a reliable option where deer browse is a concern. Its spring flowers attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and moths, contributing to garden biodiversity.
It provides multi-season interest: bright red-edged new growth in spring, white flowers, golden foliage throughout summer, and red berries in fall. This continuous display adds dynamic appeal. It is a hardy, adaptable shrub, thriving across USDA hardiness zones 4 to 7, and withstanding a range of temperatures and soil conditions. Its robust nature and ability to recover from pruning make it a dependable landscape plant.