BLACK LACE™ (S. nigra 'Eva ppaf) Perhaps the coolest new plant ever developed this new Sambucus looks more like a Japanese maple or a Cimicifuga but a whole lot easier grow. Just imagine what you could do with that lacy, intense purple-black foliage! The unique texture and color provide season long interest. It gets even better. Massive clusters of pink flowers cover the plant in midsummer and emit a light lemon fragrance. What a contrast to the leaves! Use it as a shrub, as a bold perennial or train it into a small tree. It's colorful, versatile and easy to grow. Its intriguing dark foliage is finely cut like that of Japanese maple. But Black Lace is adaptable to most growing conditions and hardy all the way to Zone 4, making it a better choice than Japanese maple for many areas. Plant it in the perennial border or use it as a dramatic accent in the general landscape.