Sambucus Nigra

I have just bought a Sambucus nigra "Black Lace"
Can anyone tell me if it is invasive as my hubby thionks it is
Thanx

Well I personally don't have this plant, but the DG page says that the plant doesn't set seed and no one complained of it being invasive, it actually made me want one!! lol! Here's the site...

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56964/

I hope that helps!

That box gets checked off either if the plant doesn't set seed or if the plant won't come true from seed, and since 'Black Lace' is a hybrid cultivar it won't come true from seed so that's most likely why that was checked off. I did look through the Plant Files entries for several S. nigra cultivars as well as the straight species though and nobody commented on it being invasive. That's definitely not a guarantee because maybe nobody from a climate like yours has tried growing it, but if it was horribly invasive chances are there would have been at least one comment in there to that effect.

I have Sambucus nigra "Black Lace" and it is definitely not invasive at all in my zone.

One thing to be aware of if you don't already know is that this shrub will exhibit a very lazy habit its first year in your garden. You'll need to either just let it sprawl or stake it up if you can't handle that :-) Not to worry though - in its second year in your garden it will straighten itself right up for you.

Thanx everyone for your advice much appreciated
Smurfy

Hi Smurfy, I have the Black Lace and it is not invasive in any shape or form, after a couple of years, I give it a good prune very early spring so that I can enjoy the flowers against the black foliage, the foliage is also a lovely show piece, it looks really good planted beside something with a pinkish foliage too as they both compliment each other, so tell husband not to panic, though he is right to thing some of the family are very invasive. good luck. Weenel.

ecrane3 is correct. This plant is anything but sterile and it is documented as hybridizing. The box was checked because this is a cultivar and if you want to propagate it from seed, it will revert to type and you will end up with offspring that don't resemble the momma 'Black Lace' parent plant. One of the reasons why so many people don't think their plants are weedy or invasive is because the offspring literally revert and don't look like the parent plant. If you want a copy of your plant, you would need to clone it or rather to propagate it asexually. This can be done a few ways and you would end up with a plant that looks like your 'Black Lace'. I know this sounds confusing.

I don't have one of these plants but I am definitely familiar with them.

So far it's weedy. It has naturalized in three states which isn't a good sign given the popularity of this plant is rising-
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SANIN2

I've read at least one documents indicating it is expected this particular European species will enjoy a greater distribution (become weedier) in the not so distant future. It is expected to spread further "under the influence of climate warming and environment eutrophication". In other words, the plant has potential to be a problem down the line based on its ability to colonize in disturbed soils and they're probably out of money for research on this but will revisit it in 10 years or so after they've had some time to establish and escape cultivation. It is not currently regarded as an actual problem... yet.