Shrub
Elderberry
Lemony Lace elderberry is a deciduous shrub grown for its striking ornamental foliage and edible dark berries that arrive in late summer. Hardy from zones 3 to 7, this cultivar reaches 3 to 5 feet tall and equally wide, thriving in full sun to partial shade with moderate water and care. The plant produces showy, fragrant white flowers in May and June before yielding harvestable clusters of nutritious berries by its second year. It's a tough, wildlife-friendly perennial that tolerates wet soil and spreads naturally by root suckers, making it both a garden feature and a functional fruit producer.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-7
Sunlight
Partial Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Moist, Fertile Loam; Tolerates Poor Soil
Growth Stats
60 in
Height
72 in
Width
TypeBush
Spacing
120
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Partial Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-7
Size
60in H x 72in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
Lemony Lace flourishes in zones where cold winters are the norm, hardy enough for zone 3 gardens while handling zone 7 heat with ease. The foliage develops its best color in full sun, and the plant's natural tolerance for wet soil means it thrives where other shrubs struggle. Birds flock to the showy red berries that mature in late summer, drawing wildlife into your garden while providing you with clusters ripe for harvesting, syrup making, or simply leaving for the birds.
Common Uses
The dark berries are harvested whole in clusters and used fresh or refrigerated for processing into syrups, jellies, wines, and nutritious preparations. The fragrant white flowers that bloom in late spring also have culinary and medicinal applications. Beyond food, the plant serves as an ornamental shrub with attractive foliage and is excellent for attracting birds and wildlife to the garden.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant rooted plants in spring, spacing 120 inches apart to allow for mature spread of 48 to 72 inches. Ensure soil is moist and well-drained before planting.
Harvesting
Elderberries become harvestable beginning in the plant's second year. In late summer, harvest whole clusters of berries by clipping them from the shrub. The berries will be dark red to black when fully ripe. Strip the berries from the cluster stems before processing or storage. Use the fruit as soon as possible after harvest, or refrigerate for later use.
Pruning
Prune in late winter by removing dead or weakened stems and shortening one-year stems as needed. Remove root sucker growth as it appears throughout the growing season unless you intend to naturalize the shrub into a spreading colony. The shrub's somewhat sprawling habit benefits from strategic pruning to maintain shape and encourage productive new growth.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Bloom Time
May To June
Attracts
Birds
Tolerances
Wet Soil
Scientific Classification
Sambucus racemosa 'Smnsrd4' LEMONY LACE
Family
Viburnaceae
Genus
Sambucus
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (N)AK (N)CAN (N)