Sambucus racemosa Lemony Lace
Best low-maintenance shrub for gardeners seeking vibrant, bird-friendly foliage.
The Sambucus racemosa Lemony Lace® is a striking Elderberry shrub celebrated for its vibrant, chartreuse, deeply cut foliage that creates a feathery mound all season. This Proven Winners®/Color Choice® variety produces red fruit in autumn, attracting local birds. As a hardy deciduous shrub, it is generally trouble-free, thriving happily in ordinary soil. Maintenance is minimal, typically requiring only a late-winter pruning to manage size and shape. Customers appreciate its rapid growth and beautiful, year-round color display.
$31.20
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
866
/ 2688
#866 in Bushes & Shrubs
Price vs Category Average
-21%
Below average
Mature Height
35
/ - feet
Who it's for
- Landscapers wanting fast-growing plants with multi-season appeal
- Gardeners seeking vibrant, fine-textured focal points
- Northern homeowners needing reliable, cold-hardy landscape shrubs
Who should skip it
- Beginners wary of managing common pest and mildew issues
- Gardeners with limited light control or extreme sun exposure
- Low-maintenance enthusiasts avoiding regular pruning tasks
Performance breakdown
Foliage Impact
Chartreuse, lace-like leaves provide a high-contrast focal point for any garden.
Maintenance Ease
Minimal pruning requirements make this a stress-free choice for busy gardeners.
Growth Velocity
Rapid development quickly fills empty landscape gaps with lush, feathery texture.
Wildlife Attraction
Autumn berries serve as a reliable natural magnet for local bird populations.
Deer Resistance
Reliably deters browsing deer, protecting your investment from common garden pests.
Versatility
Adapts seamlessly to both container gardening and traditional landscape border beds.
Key Specs
Mature Height
3-5 feet
Mature Spread
3-6 feet
Hardiness Zones
3-7S/W
Exposure
Sun to Part Shade
Blooms In
May
Spacing Recommendation
3-6 feet
Ships as
ONE GALLON POT
Warranty
1 year money-back guarantee
Features
- Striking chartreuse, deeply cut foliage
- Vibrant, feathery mound shape
- Attracts birds with red fruit
- Deer resistant
- Fast growth rate
- Low maintenance
- Hardy deciduous shrub
- Container friendly
What customers say
Gardeners overwhelmingly praise Sambucus racemosa 'Lemony Lace' for its exceptional aesthetic appeal. The brilliant, nonfading chartreuse to lemon yellow foliage offers unique texture and sophistication, making it a standout focal point. Reviewers note the shrub is vigorous and fast growing once established, providing immediate garden impact. Its hardiness across various light conditions is a major benefit. The primary consideration involves moisture management; consistent watering is essential, particularly in hot, dry climates, to prevent leaf scorch. Overall, customers feel 'Lemony Lace' delivers outstanding value through its distinctive color and texture, significantly enhancing garden displays.
Know before you buy
You should space these shrubs 3 to 6 feet apart. This allows enough room for their mature spread of 3 to 6 feet while ensuring proper airflow.
Lemony Lace performs well in both full sun and partial shade. While it thrives in both, providing some afternoon shade in hotter climates can help prevent the foliage from scorching.
Yes, this variety is considered deer resistant. While no plant is completely deer-proof, it is generally not a preferred snack for local deer populations.
Maintenance is minimal. You only need to prune it once a year in late winter to manage its size and shape before new growth begins in the spring.
Absolutely. Because it is container-friendly and reaches a manageable mature height of 3 to 5 feet, it works beautifully in large pots as a focal point.
The red fruit is primarily beneficial, as it serves as a food source for local birds. It does not typically attract nuisance pests, and because the shrub is deciduous, the fruit will naturally drop as the plant prepares for winter.
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Ready to buy?
$31