Black Elder 'Gerda'

Commonly sold under the name Black Beauty, 'Gerda' is a dramatic deciduous shrub that provides a bold splash of colour. Its most striking feature is its deeply cut, dark purple-black foliage that maintains its rich colour throughout the summer. In early summer, it produces large, flat-topped clusters of lemon-scented, pink flowers that contrast beautifully with the dark leaves. If not deadheaded, these are followed by small black elderberries in autumn, which are a favourite of garden birds. It is a vigorous and hardy shrub which can be allowed to grow into a large specimen or pruned hard in early spring to keep it more compact and to encourage even darker foliage. It is very adaptable and will grow in most soil types, including damp soils, and can tolerate both full sun and partial shade.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Moist but well-drained, most soil types.

Hardiness: H6 — down to −20°C.

Flowering: Jun, Jul.