Thank you Molly & marquest. I may decide to plant them by my hibiscus in the middle of my rose garden. And, if I want some more, it's nice to know they are easy to root (expensive to buy). (Funny about that, marquest, I discovered by accident that hibiscus can be divided like a perennial! I think of them as shrubs and I didn't think shrubs could be divided- I was moving mine and I thought I had killed it for sure when the rooted section broke in two, instead I got 2 plants!) Brandyray

Black Lace is a form of Sambucus nigra so it does not sucker as does S. canadensis. Also - if you grow only one clone you will not get much if any fruit. It is self incompatable. I also beleive that the species blooms on old wood. It blooms in the spring and not in mid-summer as does S. canadenis. I cut mine back each spring and pinch it often to get a real bushy plant, but I only get a few flowers and no fruit. The new growth is green but changes quickly to dark black.

Will not be as purple as in full light. You would also be planting a dark plant in a dark spot - kind of the opposite of what is often desired.

I planted a 'Black Lace' last spring (2006) under what appears to be the exact same conditions you have - beside the foundation of white house, south exposure, alkaline soil. The plant itself was small (gallon size) and didn't look too promising but we did water it regularly throughout our very hot summer with its accompanying drought. By fall it had filled out somewhat but was only about 18" tall. This year we had what we thought was a very early spring (temps in the 70's in March) and everything, including the 'Black Lace' really took off. Then winter returned with a vengence and the prolonged below-freezing temps and a couple of 6" heavy, wet snows, totally killed all new growth. It's a month later now and the 'Black Lace' is growing like mad. It's filling out nicely (about 30" wide now) and is at least 36" tall and growing. Right now its color is dark green and there's one cluster of flower buds that should bloom in a week or so. Probably there would have been more blooms if we hadn't had that freezing spell. Last year during the summer the foliage was much darker so I'm guessing that it will blacken as it gets hotter. Considering how well mine is growing despite all the hardships it has endured, I highly recommend it.