Description:

An eye-catching garden shrub with bright golden finely cut compound leaves and attractive clusters of small, white flowers in spring, somewhat coarse in winter; a great texture plant, very adaptable, survives with minimal care but tends to sucker

Ornamental Features

Goldfinch American Elder features showy clusters of lightly-scented creamy white flowers held atop the branches in early summer. It has attractive gold deciduous foliage. The compound leaves are highly ornamental and turn yellow in fall. The deep purple fruits are held in clusters in early fall.

Landscape Attributes

Goldfinch American Elder is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a high maintenance shrub that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Suckering

Goldfinch American Elder is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Goldfinch American Elder will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species.