Sambucus racemosa 'PLUMOSA AUREA'

Aren’t the breeders krafty, I often say to myself. Take European elder, for instance. This omnipresent shrub grows anywhere, without any maintenance and the more you prune it the thicker it gets. Well, what a promising start for cultivation, someone said. And here we are! So forget this common weed of our countryside and dive into the world of SAMBUCUS, the world of colours, shapes and sizes that, with 10 different varieties, could well do for one complete garden.

Plumosa Aurea is an attractive variety of red-berried elder. It has striking foliage that will perfectly contrast with dark green or purple-leaved shrubs. The deciduous, pinnate leaves are finely cut and may look like a short fern frond. Their colour is bright golden yellow with bronze tips when they emerge, changing to fresh yellow-green in summer. This variety is not known to flower.

It grows quite vigorously if you regularly prune it every spring. By cutting it back you will gain an elegant, dense shrub with plentiful of new branches and healthy, bright coloured foliage. It tolerates any soil and location but for best results grow it in full sun in moist, humus-rich soil. Fully hardy to approx. -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 15-03-2010