A spectacular ornamental bush, Black Beauty grows about 10' tall with deep, purple-black foliage. Lemon-scented, pink flowers in June and July. Bears clusters of edible black berries in fall when pollinated by another S. nigra variety. From the East Malling Research Station in England.(http://www.raintreenursery.com/catalog/producttype.cfm?producttype=ELDER) 03/30/2009
From U.S. Plant Patent issued 12/25/2001: This new invention presents a new cultivar of Elderberry, Sambucus nigra, herein referred to as 'Gerda'. 'Gerda' is unique in that it has very dark purple-red foliage and an intense pink flower coloration. The pink coloration of ' Gerda' is denned by the pink lower surface of the petals, the pink tips on the petals, and the deep pink color of the anthers, styles and pedicels.
'Gerda' was selected from a seedling population. The first generation cross was made in 1990 between Sambucus nigra 'Pyramidalis' (unpatented) and Sambucus nigra 'Guincho Purple' (unpatented). 'Pyramidalis' (aka 'Fastigiata') has a more erect habit, the foliage is green, and the flowers are a creamy white. 'Guincho Purple' is similar in habit to 'Gerda', however the foliage color is lighter, more bronze and often flecked wit green and the flowers are creamy white with pale pink anthers, styles and pedicels. A subsequent cross was made between two selected seedlings from the original cross in June of 1993. Approximately 100 flowers were hand-pollinated and then bagged fo protection until a seed harvest that resulted in 203 seedlings being planted out for evaluation in 1994. The new variety 'Gerda' was selected from these seedlings in 1996 on the basis of its purple-pink flowers and intense purple-red, almost black foliage. In addition to comparisons made to the parents, the foliage color is also much darker in comparison to the cultivar 'Thundercloud' (unpatented). All crosses and selections were done in West Malling, Kent in England.