
Light Needs

Mature Height

Mature Spread

Growing Zones
The award winning Lemony Lace Elderberry will be a garden stand out as it lives up to its lemony lime name and green foliage. The leaves start out red yet their continued growth results in a magnificent yellow green with slightly red edges. In early spring, before leaves appear, large white flowers blossom which turn into red berries in the fall. The autumn berries attract and feed birds as the flowers entice beneficial insects.
The intricate leaves cover each individual stem providing a lacy layer that sways beautifully in summer breezes. Featuring such a delicate delicate look, it’s surprising that it is a very low maintenance and highly adaptable plant. A native of North America, the Lemony Lace Elderberry grows to 3 to 6 feet tall with a spread equaling the same width. When planting, space 2 to 3 feet apart for a tighter hedge. If you want a more flowing look, increase the spacing by an additional foot. This deciduous plant loses its leaves in winter but will be ready and waiting to make a full return in spring.
Lemony Lace® Elderberry Care
In order for the plant to produce berries, you will need to plant at least 2 of these shrubs within 60 feet of each other to cross-pollinate each other. Both shrubs will produce berries.
Pruning young plants will produce an abundance of lush foliage in spring. Drastically cutting back in winter is likely to eliminate future blooms and berries the following year as it is an “old wood“ bloomer, meaning it blossoms on already existing stems. For the second spring and beyond, cut back to approximately 12 inches off of the ground. Being a naturally large plant, it can be pruned to fit your needs and preferences.
Considered a shrub, It also makes a perfect accent, foundation, hedge or border plant. While it will adapt to different types of soil, it prefers a rich, moist, slightly acidic soil with regular moderate watering and adequate drainage. The Lemony Lace Elderberry grows best in full sun of cooler climates but welcomes a touch of partial shade when located in areas of extreme heat. Being a sun lover works beautifully as the sun shines on it’s already bright leaves giving an appearance of light penetrating from the plant.
Lemony Lace® Elderberry Spacing
This beauty is extremely deer resistant while being a welcome treat to birds in the fall, giving viewers a beautiful show of all aspects of nature. Makes a great focal point with birdwatching an additional plus. Elderberries as we commonly know them are great in jams and as health boosters, but this is not the one. The Lemony Lace Elderberry is strictly for looks and birds only. You’ll receive many compliments and double takes with this magnificent pop of color in you landscape or garden.
Lemony Lace® Elderberry Plant Facts
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-7 |
Flower Color(s): White Flowers |
Bloom Period: Early Spring |
Foliage Color(s): Chartreuse |
Exposure: Partial Sun to Full Sun |
Height: 3-5 Feet |
Spread: 3-5 Feet |
Spacing: 3 Feet Center on Center |
Habit: Mounded |
Blooms On: Old Wood |
Watering: Average |
Shrub Type: Deciduous |
Scientific Name: Lemony Lace® Sambucus racemosa 'SMNSRD4' USPP 26,613 |
Common Name: Lemony Lace Elderberry |
- SKU:
- SAMLL
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.

Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts

Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts

Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts

Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons

We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.

Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
---|---|
Zone 10 | March 31th |
Zone 9 | March 31st |
Zone 8 | April 7th |
Zone 7 | April 14th |
Zone 6b | April 21st |
Zone 6a | April 28th |
Zone 5b | May 5th |
Zone 5a | May 12th |
Zone 4 | May 19th |
Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: Idaho, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!