Credit: David Foley
Sambucus nigra 'Eva'
Background and story
Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’ is a modern cultivated form of the European elder, bred for its distinctive deep purple, finely dissected foliage and contrast with pale pink flowers.
Despite its refined, almost exotic appearance, it retains the robust character of its parent species, forming a deciduous shrub typically 2.5–4 metres tall with a loose, informal habit.
The cultivar, ‘Eva’ is a relatively recent introduction, developed through a breeding programme begun in 1988 at East Malling Research Station in Kent by Ken Tobutt and Jacqui Prevette. It was selected from European elder (Sambucus nigra) for its unusually dark, finely cut foliage and was formally released in the early 2000s, quickly becoming popular under the trade name Black Lace®.
Unlike many ornamental cultivars, it has strong roots in the native flora of Ireland and Britain through its parent species, which has been part of the local landscape for centuries.
The introduction of ‘Eva’ represents a modern reimagining of a familiar plant, combining traditional utility (flowers and berries) with contemporary ornamental design.
Hardiness and conservation
The recorded RHS hardiness rating is H6, which means this plant is very hardy and suited to colder UK, Irish and northern European conditions. The recorded USDA/PFAF hardiness value is 5-7, which is useful as a broad winter-temperature guide, but it should not be read as a direct substitute for the RHS rating. Local hardiness always depends on local shelter, drainage, winter wet, salt-laden wind and the plant’s age and establishment.
The IUCN Red List status recorded here is Least Concern (LC). This means it has been assessed as being at relatively low risk of extinction in the wild. The assessment year recorded in the plant data is 2020.
Additional notes for Ireland and Britain
In Ireland and the UK, Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’ performs extremely reliably and is best regarded as a tough, adaptable shrub for a wide range of conditions. It is fully hardy (RHS H6), tolerating severe winter cold across almost all of Britain and Ireland, and will grow in most soil types, including clay and chalk, provided drainage is reasonable. In practice, it thrives in full sun or light shade, producing the deepest foliage colour in brighter positions, and can reach around 2.5–4 m in height within a decade. Like its wild parent, it is vigorous and forgiving, responding well to hard pruning and capable of growing even in relatively poor soils or exposed sites.
From a conservation perspective, the cultivar ‘Eva’ has no status, as it is a horticultural selection maintained entirely in cultivation. The species Sambucus nigra, however, is native, widespread, and secure across Europe, including Ireland and Britain. It is assessed as Least Concern in Europe, reflecting its abundance and adaptability in both wild and human-influenced habitats.
Notable features
- ‘Eva’ is the cultivar name; Black Lace is the trade name. The RHS lists the plant as Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla ‘Eva’ PBR, with synonyms including Sambucus ‘Black Lace’ and Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla ‘Black Lace’.
- It was bred in England, not simply found in the wild. The US plant patent says ‘Eva’ came from a breeding programme at Horticulture Research International, East Malling, Kent. Crosses were made in 1988 using cut-leaved elder ‘Laciniata’ and purple-leaved cultivars including ‘Guincho Purple’ and ‘Aurea’.
- Its dramatic foliage was the selling point, not the flowers or fruit. Most elders are grown for flowers, berries, wildlife value or hedgerow character. ‘Eva’ was selected because it combined very dark purple, almost black leaves with deeply dissected, lacy foliage.
- It is often treated as a “poor person’s Japanese maple”. Several nurseries describe the foliage as Japanese-maple-like, but unlike many Japanese maples it grows quickly, tolerates harder pruning, and is much less precious in ordinary garden conditions. That makes it useful where you want a dark, finely cut foliage effect without the fussiness of an acer.
- It belongs to a plant with a strong folklore shadow. The common elder has long been associated with superstition in Britain and Ireland. The Woodland Trust notes old beliefs that burning elder wood could bring bad luck or even reveal the Devil, while planting elder near a house was thought to protect it. Black Lace is a modern cultivar, but it carries that elder folklore with it.
- Elder was sometimes called the “Judas tree”. One old tradition held that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from an elder tree. This is folklore rather than botany, but it is one reason elder has had an oddly dark cultural reputation, which suits the theatrical look of Black Lace rather well.
Earlscliffe notes
This has been planted at Earlscliffe for at least a decade and was situated to take advantage of the colour of the flowers and foliage.
Where to see it in the garden
Tour Area ❹Gallery
Credit: David Foley