clipping back Sambucus

I got a small black lace sambucus last year and it has one long thing that looks wierd coming off to the side...can I just clip this in half now?

Sure, why not. You could also try propagating your shrub from that cutting. You might have a pretty good shot at getting it to root.

If you clip it in half as you're suggesting, it may stimulate a couple new branches to grow from that point. If the whole shoot itself is in sort of an awkward position and having new growth coming out of there would look weird, you may be better off trimming off the whole branch back to the main branch (or trunk) that it's growing from. And I agree with Equil about trying to root whatever you cut off--this is a popular cultivar so even if you don't want more of them, it could be good for trading.

Why, LL, you could send it to that guy who suggested you were nuts to try to grow that plant in hot and humid MD.

I agree with Equil & ecrane - sometimes they send out stems that are "out-of-line" and best to trim to the main stem, lest they explode with growth awkwardly in the spring.

Well maybe I will just do that SP

Too hot and humid? I've been trying to grow Sambucus here in eastern North Carolina with no luck. The nursery I buy from says it's in my zone (7 or 8, depending on the map you're looking at). Are you saying Sambucus don't do well in hot and humid?

Well that is what HE says....but the Black Lace is suppsed to do okay here (not sure about NC)..I really think they like conditions more like what you find in Vermont......I just couldn't resist it and SP will probably turn out to be correct again.

I think Sambucus will grow in your climate, but the dark colored foliage will sometimes tend to stay green instead, I had a thread last year about my Black Beauty which arrived mail order and was very green, and the people who helped me troubleshoot that mentioned that in hot humid weather (which is where the mail order nursery I got it from was located) the leaves will tend to stay green rather than being the nice purple-black color. Not sure if that's the case with Black Lace too or not.

My comments referred to the European Sambucus, which is what Black Lace is a selection of (I think). I believe that plant would rather have a climate more like its English heritage (cooler soil temps) which isn't normally found around Baltimore or coastal NC.

Giving it some shade may very well help, and maybe a northerly slope exposure to minimize summer soil temperatures.

The Redoubtable SP

I have no doubt you will end up being corret

Oh that is a Very Viscious statement levilyla.