Dwarf Elder Serenade

A new, brilliantly coloured dwarf elder cultivar, Sambucus nigra Serenade is a medium-sized, deciduous shrub, with an erect, well-branched habit, a good specimen for the small garden and with three seasons of interest. The leaves are heavily dissected, rather like a Japanese maples, and emerge pinkish-red, turning through bronze to a bright lime-green, before turning red again in the autumn. Large, flat heads of honey-scented, creamy flowers appear in June and July, followed by juicy black berries which attract birds and home wine-makers! Dwarf elder Serenade is easy to grow, but benefits from a generous mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure (not touching the stems) in early spring.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil
Position: Full sun; tolerates light shade
Season of interest: Spring to autumn
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 8 (2.5m) Spread: 5 (1.5m)