With its beautiful colors and unique narrow upright shape, this Black TowerTM Elderberry PP23633 (Sambucus nigra Eiffel 1) will be the talk of the town. The large, serrated leaves emerge light green and age to this deep purple, almost black color!.
The leaves are just the beginning of the plant’s amazing beauty. In early summer, the big pink flowers with flat tops will surprise you. In the fall, the plants will produce amazing, shiny black berry clusters. Quite the package deal!.
This Black TowerTM Elderberry will add color and style to any part of your yard that needs it. The flowers are loved by pollinators and good bugs, and the berries are good for people to eat, but the birds will enjoy them more.
Elderberry is partially self-pollinating but when paired with other Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) plants will produce more edible fruit. It can grow in a lot of different conditions and can be planted in USDA planting zones 4 through 8. It gets about 6 to 8 feet tall and only 3 to 4 feet wide, with dramatic dark leaves that stand out vertically.
When you plant this shrub in large groups, it will be the “wow” factor in your landscaping! You will get so many compliments on this beautiful Black TowerTM Elderberry! Use rows as backdrops that save space and light up everything else you plant before them in your stylish Cottage garden, Rock garden, or even a Rain Garden where they will like the higher moisture!
Even in large planters, the columnar form makes Black Tower™ an incredible addition as a specimen shrub too. You can line your driveway with Black TowerTM Elderberries that are grown in pots or in the ground, or you can put them evenly spaced along a path to make it more interesting. They look great with other plants that have dark leaves.
Put Black Lace® or Black Beauty® Elderberry and other dark-leafed plants behind it to make a high and low-tiered hedge along the front of your house. This will define the property and slow down traffic. If you want to be daring, use Lemony Lace® Elderberry for a chartreuse background. Is there a more stylish way to use food as landscaping?
Imagine having a privacy hedge made of these narrow black-leafed shrubs along your path or between your property and the neighbors’. Putting one of these shrubs on each corner of your home or on top of the entrance to your front steps or garden gate will make it look even better.
The most flowers and the most color will grow where it gets full sun. For the best growth, plant in rich, well-drained soil. During their first year, make sure they can get water regularly and don’t let them dry out between waterings. Also, cover them with 3–4 inches of arborist mulch. Once established, these deciduous shrubs only need supplemental moisture during prolonged heat and excess drought situations.
If you want your elderberry to look nice, trim it every year after the flowers die off. You can clean up your shrub by cutting off any dead or weak stems in late winter or early spring. You can also shorten any stems that are too tall, but they bloom on last year’s wood, so don’t take too much.
If your plant gets too big, you can easily make it look brand new by cutting all of its stems off at the ground and starting over. However, it won’t bloom that year after that.
You can just sit back and enjoy the beauty of your yard while the Black TowerTM Columnar Elderberry does its thing. This Elderberry will be sure to sell fast, so order your very own today at Nature Hills Nursery!.
The Black Tower Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Effel1’) is an eye-catching and fast-growing variety that is becoming increasingly popular in gardens. As someone who loves gardening, I was curious to learn more about the growth rate of this striking plant. In this article I will share details on the Black Tower Elderberry’s rapid growth habit and what you can expect in terms of how quickly it matures.
The Black Tower Elderberry is a cultivar of the European Elderberry that was introduced by Spring Meadow Nursery in Michigan. It features deep purple-black foliage that provides a dramatic contrast to the two-toned pink flowers that bloom in early summer. As the flowers fade, they give way to clusters of purple berries in fall.
This elderberry grows in an upright form, quickly reaching 6 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. The columnar shape makes it ideal for use as a hedge or screen. It can also be incorporated into mixed borders or grown in containers.
One of the most outstanding features of the Black Tower Elderberry is its rapid growth rate, which I will explore in more detail throughout this article.
The Growth Rate of the Black Tower Elderberry
The Black Tower Elderberry is described as having a fast growth rate. According to the information I gathered from online plant retailers and growers, this elderberry grows at an impressive rate of over 2 feet per year.
Within the first year after planting as a young shrub, you can expect it to establish and put on significant growth, potentially reaching 3 feet tall. In year two, it may achieve 5 feet in height and by year three, mature to its expected size of 6 to 8 feet tall.
So in just a short time span of 2 to 3 years this plant can transform from a small shrub into an 8-foot privacy screen or vertical accent in the garden. The quick growth makes it ideal if you’re looking for a fast impact in your landscape.
Factors Affecting the Growth Rate
While the Black Tower Elderberry is genetically predisposed to rapid growth, there are some factors that affect its growth rate:
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Soil conditions – This elderberry thrives in moist, fertile, well-draining soil. Poor soil can stunt its growth. Amending the soil with compost at planting helps provide ideal conditions.
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Sun exposure – The shrub grows best in full sun to partial shade. Insufficient light exposure will slow the growth rate.
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Climate – Warm climates with long growing seasons are ideal for the Black Tower to achieve maximum growth. Colder climates may experience slower maturation.
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Pruning – Annual pruning of old wood after flowering encourages new, vigorous growth. Neglecting to prune may hinder the growth rate over time.
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Pollination – Cross-pollination from nearby elderberry plants results in more abundant fruit set, which energizes growth. Planting in clusters helps increase pollination.
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Aftercare – Providing supplemental water during drought and fertilizing a couple times per year ensures optimal growing conditions.
Tips for Managing the Rapid Growth
The incredibly quick growth of the Black Tower Elderberry makes it a fun plant to grow, but it also requires some management to keep it looking its best:
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Plant it in an area where it has room to reach its mature size without overcrowding other plants.
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Be diligent about pruning each year to maintain its shape and keep growth under control.
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Provide a sturdy trellis or plant it against a fence or wall to support the upright structure as it grows.
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Pinch back the tips of new growth to encourage bushier branching if desired.
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Cut back any suckers around the base to keep growth focused upwards.
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Monitor for pests like aphids that may be attracted to the rapid sap production.
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Harvest berries promptly before the birds devour them all!
Adding this Speedy Grower to Your Landscape
If you have the right growing conditions, you can capitalize on the Black Tower Elderberry’s vigorous nature to add drama to your garden. Use it as a fast-growing hedge, privacy screen, or vertical accent. Pair it with perennials like ornamental grasses or hydrangeas to complement the dark foliage.
Frequency of Entities:
Black Tower Elderberry: 20
growth rate: 15
Spring Meadow Nursery: 1
European Elderberry: 1
purple-black foliage: 2
two-toned pink flowers: 2
purple berries: 2
upright form: 2
hedge or screen: 2
mixed borders: 1
containers: 1
rapid growth rate: 3
fast growth rate: 1
young shrub: 1
reach 3 feet tall: 1
reach 5 feet tall: 1
mature size of 6 to 8 feet tall: 2
privacy screen: 1
vertical accent: 2
soil conditions: 1
moist, fertile, well-draining soil: 1
sun exposure: 1
full sun to partial shade: 1
climate: 1
warm climates: 1
long growing seasons: 1
pruning: 1
annual pruning: 1
new, vigorous growth: 1
pollination: 1
cross-pollination: 1
nearby elderberry plants: 1
more abundant fruit set: 1
aftercare: 1
supplemental water: 1
drought: 1
fertilizing a couple times per year: 1
optimal growing conditions: 1
room to reach mature size: 1
pruning each year: 1
maintain shape: 1
keep growth under control: 1
sturdy trellis: 1
fence or wall: 1
pinch back tips of new growth: 1
bushier branching: 1
cut back suckers: 1
focused upwards: 1
pests like aphids: 1
rapid sap production: 1
harvest berries promptly: 1
birds: 1
right growing conditions: 1
fast-growing hedge: 1
privacy screen: 1
vertical accent: 1
perennials like ornamental grasses: 1
hydrangeas: 1
dark foliage: 1
expansion: 1
shapely: 1
under control: 1
major impact in short time: 1
Buying Options for Plants
Nature Hills sells a large variety of plants with several options available. Plants are offered in both potted containers and as dormant bare root without soil. This page will help you understand your choices as you work with Nature Hills to make a beautiful landscape.
Want to know what a bigger plant will do for your yard? The size of the pot depends on how old the plant is.
Seasonally, Nature Hills offers hand selected, high quality bare root trees, shrubs and perennials. They are priced based on how tall they are, from the top of the roots to the top of the plant. Plants may be taller than the height minimums.
- Select trees are often bought in 1 foot, 2 foot, 3 foot, and other sizes.
- Many people choose bare root plants in sizes like 1 foot, 18 inches, and more.
Easy to grow tall shrub: Sambucus ‘Black Tower’
How big does a black tower elderberry get?
Black Tower Elderberry is a plant with a quick growth rate that can grow about 6-8 feet in height and 3-4 feet wide. However, in some cases, the plant can attain a towering height of 20-3o feet. Like most temperate species, the plant sheds its leaves in winter to cope with water loss from the dry winter air and secure some energy for the spring.
Is Black Tower elderberry a good plant?
Black Tower Elderberry is the right plant when you want to grow a plant that grows vertically and beautifies narrow space and small garden. Its rich, bright flowers and black-purple foliage will add beauty and class to any space. The dark foliage is often complimented when the stunning pink flowers begin to develop on them.
Does Black Tower elderberry need more maintenance?
Black Tower Elderberry needs more maintenance as very little is known about their care requirements. But this article covers everything that can help grow the plant in your own backyard! The Black Tower Elderberry is a deciduous shrub known for its pinkish blooms, deep green to purplish burgundy leaves, and purple-black berries.
Where does Black Tower elderberry grow?
This stunning plant is indigenous to Africa, Europe, and Southwestern Asia. Black Tower Elderberry belong to the family of Adoxaceae that is part of the Sambucus genus. It grows delicious berries that cannot be eaten raw but are often enjoyed in jellies, pies, and jams.
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