Sambucus nigra ‘Golden Tower’ – A Space-Saving Elder with Striking Golden Foliage

The Sambucus nigra ‘Golden Tower’ is a dramatic, upright elder variety that combines eye-catching golden foliage with a sleek, columnar shape. Unlike traditional sprawling elders, this compact variety grows tall and slim, making it ideal for small gardens, narrow borders, or where height is needed without the width. Its finely cut, feathery leaves emerge a fresh yellow-green in spring, maturing into a bold golden shade that brightens the garden all summer.

In early summer, clusters of creamy-white flowers appear, bringing a delicate fragrance and attracting bees and other pollinators. These may be followed by glossy black elderberries in autumn, providing food for wildlife. With its striking foliage, vertical form, and low-maintenance care needs, ‘Golden Tower’ is a superb modern shrub for adding structure and colour to any garden.

General Information

Sambucus nigra is native to Europe and long prized for its ornamental foliage, flowers, and berries. The cultivar ‘Golden Tower’ was specially bred for its narrow habit and vivid leaf colour.

• Habit: Strongly upright, columnar shrub with dense, vertical growth.

• Height & spread: Typically 2–3m tall but stays slim at just 60–90cm wide.

• Foliage: Deeply cut, feathery leaves emerge yellow-green and mature to a glowing golden hue.

• Flowers: Large, flat clusters of creamy-white flowers in early summer, lightly fragrant.

• Fruit: Sometimes followed by small, shiny black berries in late summer to autumn (beloved by birds).

• Position: Best in full sun for the brightest golden colour, though it tolerates partial shade.

• Soil: Fertile, moist but well-drained soil is ideal; tolerates clay, chalk, or sandy soils if not waterlogged.

• Hardiness: Fully hardy across the UK and Ireland.

• Uses: Perfect as a slim vertical feature, narrow hedge, container plant, or accent in mixed borders.

Its bright golden foliage makes it a striking alternative to darker varieties, offering light and contrast in planting schemes.

Care Guide

Sambucus nigra ‘Golden Tower’ is very easy to grow, requiring little maintenance to thrive.

Planting

• When to plant: Best in spring or autumn when soil is moist and workable.

• Depth & spacing: Plant at the same depth as in the pot; allow about 60–80cm between plants for hedge-like plantings.

• Preparation: Improve soil with compost or organic matter before planting to support establishment.

Watering & Feeding

• Water well during the first year to help roots establish.

• Once mature, it is fairly drought-tolerant but benefits from watering during prolonged dry spells.

• Feed in spring with a general-purpose fertiliser or mulch annually with compost for stronger growth.

Pruning & Maintenance

• Prune lightly in late winter or early spring to maintain shape and encourage fresh, colourful foliage.

• Remove any weak, damaged, or crossing stems.

• For maximum foliage colour, older stems can be cut back hard every few years (coppicing), but this may reduce flowers and berries.

• Deadhead flowers if you wish to prevent berry formation, or leave them for wildlife.

Protection

• Fully hardy and resistant to most pests and diseases.

• Shelter from very strong winds, which can damage upright stems and fine foliage.

Why Choose Sambucus nigra ‘Golden Tower’?

This modern elder variety is perfect for gardeners who want colour, height, and structure without taking up too much space.

• Golden foliage: Bright, finely cut leaves provide vibrant colour all summer.

• Slim growth habit: Tall and narrow, ideal for small or modern gardens.

• Seasonal interest: Creamy flowers in summer and berries in autumn.

• Wildlife-friendly: Flowers attract pollinators; berries feed birds.

• Low-maintenance: Hardy, resilient, and easy to care for.

The Sambucus nigra ‘Golden Tower’ is a space-saving, elegant shrub that delivers dramatic colour and structure with minimal effort. Whether grown as a focal point in borders, a striking container specimen, or as part of a modern design, it provides reliable beauty and wildlife value throughout the year.

• Size
  2 lt

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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