Daily details from the garden to bring you inspiration throughout the year
Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla ‘Eva’
Having been writing only last week on Instagram about a blue rose that, in spite of being lovely, isn’t really blue, it did me the power of good just now to wander into a rain drenched garden and discover that the black elder was living up to its name. Of course, the foliage of Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla ‘Eva’ (which I can’t help thinking of as the ‘glue elder’, Sambucus nigra ‘Polyfiller Evo-stick’) is really a fetching shade of deepest burgundy rather than black but, after being rained upon for a good twenty-four hours, this takes on something of a Stygian tone. Perhaps it’s the deeply cut leaves that allow this plant to withstand a thorough soaking without looking in the slightest bit bedraggled – sadly, not a quality it shares with everything in the border. I think I’ve discovered a new measure by which to judge a plant.
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Hello! I’m Andrew, gardener, writer, photographer, and owner of a too-loud laugh, and I’m so pleased you’ve found your way to Gardens, weeds & words. You can read a more in-depth profile of me on the About page, or by clicking this image.