If other black elderberry are grown there this should too. But it is not likely to like dry, thin soil. Like other elders, when suited it shoots right up.

Thank you, bboy. It sounds like I need to move it to nearer one of my tended gardens. I don't know of other elderberries here.
The description said it grows to 6 ft tall and 6-8 ft wide...I wonder if it would take over the area that I have a couple star hibiscus planted in? I would think the lacy leaves on both and the contrast in leaf colors would be striking. Well, I might try that. Brandyray

A happy one will grow that big in only a few seasons.

I'm not in zone 8 but I did plant a couple of these, from 1 gallon containers, two full seasons ago. Last season they were over 6' tall. Probably closer to 7'. This will be their third full season. They are a bit gangly looking in youth but this year their starting to look much fuller. I really like them. Mine are planted in sandy loam, full sun and receive a fair amount of additional watering.

Thank you, Alexis. I will have to measure the area- I don't want it to crowd out my star hibiscus. Brandyray

Your BL can be trimmed to any size you would like to keep it. They can also be treated like a perennial and cut to the ground each year.

You can also use the trimmed branches to make more sambucus. I discovered that they root very easy. My dog stepped on mine and broke some stems I put the broken stems in the moist shade garden and I have 3 new little plants this year.

Thank you Molly & marquest. I may decide to plant them by my hibiscus in the middle of my rose garden. And, if I want some more, it's nice to know they are easy to root (expensive to buy). (Funny about that, marquest, I discovered by accident that hibiscus can be divided like a perennial! I think of them as shrubs and I didn't think shrubs could be divided- I was moving mine and I thought I had killed it for sure when the rooted section broke in two, instead I got 2 plants!) Brandyray