Features Crops New Varieties
Black Lace Named Best New Plant for 2006

Black Lace™ Elder (Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’), a much talked about variety
from Proven Winners, was named the “Best New Plant for 2006” at the
ANLA Management Clinic.

Black Lace™ Elder (Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’), a much talked about variety from Proven Winners, was named the “Best New Plant for 2006” at the ANLA Management Clinic. The Management Clinic is an important venue for retailers and industry leaders and is home to the NMPro New Plant Pavilion, a new plant showcase where growers and breeders feature their best varieties for the coming season. Retailers get to see what is new and growers can gauge the potential popularity of their new varieties. Out of over 40 new varieties of trees, shrubs and perennials, Black Lace was voted as the Best New Plant for 2006.   

By no means is Black Lace your typical elder, as evident by its unique combination of dark purplish-black coloured foliage, large pink blooms and finely dissected leaves. Retailers and gardeners alike are excited because this elder bares an uncanny resemblance to Japanese maple, but is comparatively much easier to grow and produce. Developed by Horticulture Research International, a British-funded breeding program at East Malling, Kent, it was introduced with great success and fanfare at the Chelsea Flower Show in England in 2003. The breeder hopes for even greater potential on this side of the ocean.  For more information about Black Lace, visit www.colorchoiceplants.com.