berry shrub
Black Lace elderberry
An ornamental elderberry that still supports edible flower and berry uses.
Growing Profile
- Hardiness
- Zones 4a-8b
- Sun
- FullPartial
- Soil
- LoamClay
- Water
- High
- Deer pressure
- Not rated No deer-resistance category is assigned yet; treat browsing risk as local and variable.
- Black walnut
- Better near black walnut Use as a black walnut / juglone planning cue; tolerance varies by cultivar, soil, and distance from the tree.
- Planting depth
- Set the crown or top of root ball level with the surrounding soil.
- Container min
- 10+ gal (workable)
- Goals
- FruitCurb appeal & colorPollinators & wildlifePrivacy & screening
Harvest & Use
- Window
- berries ripen in late summer
- Yield return
- 4-15 lb/plant/year
- First output
- 2-3 yrs
- Best for
- FruitCurb appeal & colorPollinators & wildlifePrivacy & screening
Harvest window: berries ripen in late summer. Once established, the current pound-return model uses 4-15 lb/plant/year with a harvest window of 2-5 weeks.
Quick answers
Spacing, Yield, and Growing Answers
Direct planning answers for common grower searches, backed by the sourced profile data where available.
How far apart should you plant Black Lace elderberry?
Plant Black Lace elderberry at 4-8 ft in-row x 10-12 ft rows. Adjust this starting point for trellises, hedges, rootstock, containers, pruning style, or local extension guidance.
How much does Black Lace elderberry produce?
Black Lace elderberry yield is modeled as 4-15 lb/plant/year. Treat that as a planning range, because weather, soil, watering, pruning, pests, and local pressure can change the real result.
How long does Black Lace elderberry take to produce?
Black Lace elderberry usually reaches first useful harvest or display in 2-3 yrs under suitable conditions.
How do you grow Black Lace elderberry?
Grow Black Lace elderberry in USDA zones 4a-8b with full, partial light, loam, clay soil, and high water. Use 4-8 ft in-row x 10-12 ft rows for layout planning. Match the plant to drainage, heat, chill, and pest pressure before scaling up.
Can Black Lace elderberry grow in a container?
Black Lace elderberry can start with a container of about 10+ gal (workable). Larger containers usually buffer heat and moisture swings better than the minimum.
Plant photos
What it looks like in the garden
Use these photos to compare the plant's leaves, stems, flowers, fruit, and overall habit before you buy or plant.
Photo is from an educational/public institution source and shows a representative fruiting plant. Fruit color, size, and growth habit can vary by cultivar, season, nursery stock, and site.
Photo sources: H. Zell / NC State Extension Plant Toolbox (Educational/public institution source)
Quantitative Profile
- Pound return
- 4-15 lb/plant/year
- 10-year return
- 28-105 lb/10 yrs
- Full output
- 4-6 yrs
- Mature size
- 6-12 ft H x 6-10 ft W
- Spacing
- 4-8 ft in-row x 10-12 ft rows
- Planting depth
- Set the crown or top of root ball level with the surrounding soil.
- Container min
- 10+ gal (workable)
- Productive life
- 10-20 yrs
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Reliability
- 4/5
- Data quality
- Medium profile, Medium yield confidence
Pound return is the stock-style yield metric. These are planning ranges for comparing plants, not guarantees. Cultivar, rootstock, climate, soil, pruning, pest pressure, and wildlife can move actual results.
Planting Checklist
8 itemsPlant by ZIP may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through checklist links.
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Hose timer
Watering / Install at plantingKeep new plantings and containers from drying out during establishment.
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Right-size container with drainage
Containers / Before plantingUse a container large enough for mature roots, with open drainage holes to prevent root rot.
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Expanding container potting mix
Containers / Before plantingUse a lighter container medium instead of dense garden soil in pots and grow bags.
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Drip irrigation kit
Watering / Install at plantingDeliver steady root-zone moisture with less leaf wetness and less water loss.
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Fruit tree and berry fertilizer
Nutrition / After establishmentSupport fruiting wood, bloom, and recovery after establishment once soil needs are known.
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Soil test kit or lab mailer
Site prep / Before plantingCheck pH and baseline nutrients before adding amendments, especially for fruiting crops, native beds, and acid-loving plants.
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Digging spade or shovel
Tools / Planting dayOpen planting holes, loosen compacted soil, and shape beds for larger transplants.
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Plant labels
Planning / Planting dayTrack cultivar, planting date, and variety when comparing harvests or pollination partners.
Yield curve
Estimated Pound Return
Projected annual yield ramp from establishment to full production, using the current sourced range for Black Lace elderberry.
- Year 1
- 0 lb Establishment year: focus on roots before harvest.
- Year 5
- 3.2-12 lb
- Year 10
- 4-15 lb
- 10-year total
- 28-105 lb/10 yrs
Shaded band shows the sourced low-to-high pound-yield range. The line tracks the midpoint for quick comparison.
Method: direct pound yield from crop metric source. Annual crops assume one comparable planting per year; perennial crops ramp from first bearing to full production.
Planting Strategy
- Planting depth: Set the crown or top of root ball level with the surrounding soil.
- Container minimum: 10+ gal (workable). Use 10+ gal; larger containers stabilize moisture and yield.
- Start with one plant when testing fit in a new bed or container.
- Plant more than one when harvest volume or pollination is the main goal.
- For screening, repeat compatible plants and confirm mature spacing before buying.
- Use the pairing map below to choose nearby companions or compatible varieties.
Risk Factors
- Match the site first: full, partial light, loam, clay soil, and high water.
- Use 4-8 ft in-row x 10-12 ft rows as the first spacing model; adjust for hedges, trellises, containers, or local guidance.
- Plan around mature size: 6-12 ft H x 6-10 ft W.
- For harvest planning, treat "berries ripen in late summer" and 4-15 lb/plant/year as planning ranges, not guarantees.
- For screens and hedges, confirm mature size and spacing with the nursery label or local extension guidance.
Related Planning Guides
Comparable Plants
Companion Plants & Pairings
Compatible Cultivars
Elderberries generally fruit better when more than one compatible cultivar flowers nearby, and they fit naturally as a moist-site edible hedge.
Use it: Plant two or more cultivars in the same moist edge or hedgerow, leaving room for suckers and harvest access.
Sources & Methodology
This guide combines hardiness range, light, soil, water, harvest timing, traits, supplier links, plant relationships, and quantitative planning metrics. Pairings are screened for practical garden fit.
Quantitative values use extension and botanical-reference ranges where available. For less-studied cultivars, similar crops fill gaps conservatively. Ranges are intentionally broad so the profile stays useful without pretending to be exact.
Planning sources: Ohio State Extension - Elderberry Production in OhioStark Bro's - Harvesting Elderberry PlantsUniversity of Maryland Extension - Planting a Tree or ShrubUniversity of Maryland Extension - Starting a Home Fruit GardenUniversity of Maryland Extension - Types of Containers for Growing Vegetables
Supplier search: Stark Bro's. Search links are not paid placements unless explicitly marked; affiliate listings may earn a commission. Last reviewed: 2026-05-31.