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Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’ (European red elder, Golden elderberry)

Photo/Illustration: Michelle Gervais

(Based on 1 user review)

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Hardiness Zones:

Botanical Name: Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’ sam-BOO-kus rass-ih-MOE-sah Common Name: European red elder, Golden elderberry Genus: Sambucus

This choice specimen has a graceful habit with finely divided golden foliage that emerges as bronze. It is less susceptible to sun scorch than the other gold varieties. It bears creamy white flowers that mature into red fruits.
Noteworthy characteristics: Sambucus is suitable for mixed or shrub borders or for naturalizing in wild areas; cultivars with colored foliage such as this one are effective as specimens. The fruits of this genus have culinary attributes when cooked, but can cause illness if eaten raw, or if the poisonous seeds are consumed.
Care: Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil, preferably with morning full sun and afternoon shade. Sambucus may be pruned minimally to maintain a healthy framework, but it benefits from hard pruning to restict its size. Cultivars like this one that are grown for their foliage may be cut back annually to within 2 or 3 buds from a permanent framework.
Propagation: Sow seed in a cold frame in the fall; take softwood cuttings in early summer and hardwood cuttings in winter.
Problems: Powdery mildew, canker, dieback, rust, fungal leaf spots, borers, virus diseases.

Overview
User Reviews
Photos

Height	6 ft. to 10 ft.
Spread	6 ft. to 10 ft.
Growth Pace	Moderate Grower
Light	Full Sun to Part Shade
Moisture	Medium Moisture
Maintenance	Low
Characteristics	Attracts Birds; Attracts Butterflies; Fragrant Flowers; Showy Foliage; Showy Fruit
Bloom Time	Summer
Foliage Color	Colorful/Burgundy Foliage
Flower Color	White Flower; Yellow Flower
Uses	Beds and Borders, Poisonous, Specimen Plant/ Focal Point
Style	Cottage Garden
Seasonal Interest	Spring Interest, Summer Interest, Fall Interest
Type	Shrubs

Rate this plant

posted by DaylilyDreamer
3/28/2008
Region: Northeast
Zone: 5

If you like the look of Japanese Maples here is a less expensive alternative. Beautiful chartreuse foliage tinged with red; it really captures everyone's attention. It can be controlled in size by either removing one third of the older branches or cutting it hard back about 12" from the ground. However, cutting back hard, you will sacrifice having the lovely flowers in the Spring and the red berries that follow later on. The berries feed the birds and are edible for humans but must be cooked first before using them to make jams or wine. It can reach over seven feet very quickly over the summer, as I have cut mine back these past three years. This year I will try it the other way to see what happens. I love this small shrub so much that I have since added two other Sambucus culivars to my garden.

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