12.26.2008

Fab Foliage Friday



Golden elderberry (Sambucus racemosa 'Sutherland Gold') sends its gold-filigreed foliage across a sprawl of round-leafed leopard plants (Ligularia dentata 'Desdemona'). In early spring the ligularia leaves are deep bronzy green, providing a dramatic backdrop for the finely textured fronds of the elderberry. Elderberries are one of the easiest shrubs out there, and you can keep them at a manageable size-and pump up the color of the foliage in spring, when its hue is most vivid--by cutting plants to the ground early in spring.

2 comments:

Philip Bewley said...

Spectacular photo. Great info. on elderberries.
Best,
Philip

Steve Silk said...

Thanks Philip--Do elderbneries thrive in northern CA? I know they love Oregon and Washington.