Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) vs Black Elderberry - TreeTime.ca

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) vs Black Elderberry

Hippophae rhamnoides l.

Sambucus canadensis

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry)
Black Elderberry

Sea Buckthorn, aka Seaberry, is a nitrogen fixing shrub that produces attractive berries high in vitamin C.

While we can't confirm claims that the berries are effective in treating various ailments, many people believe consuming the berries helps with arthritis, infections, and asthma, among other things.

Sea Buckthorn plants have attractive pale silvery-green leaves, dense branches, and large thorns, people like to grow in ornamental hedges or as a first row in a shelterbelt.

Note: these plants typically reach maturity and make their sex easily known (females producing fruit) in their 3rd or 4th year of growth. Our seedlings are too young to identify their sex.

Black Elderberry is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America. You can plant this shrub in moist areas and it will help stabilize your soil. You can also use it on rural properties anywhere you'd use a lilac.

Warning: the seeds, stems, leaves, roots, and uncooked berries of the Black Elderberry are poisonous to humans when eaten in quantity. You should cook the berries to make them safe for human consumption.

Sea Buckthorn (Seaberry) Quick Facts

Black Elderberry Quick Facts

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Zone: 2b
Zone: 3a
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Light: full sun
Light: any
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: small, edible
Berries: black
Flowers: fragrant, white and showy
Bark: gray brownish with rigid bumps
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: high
Suckering: medium

In row spacing: 0.9 - 1.2 m (3 - 4 ft)

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)


Toxicity: leaves, stems, and uncooked berries are poisonous to humans
Other Names: sallowthorn, sandthorn, seaberry
Other Names: american black elderberry, american elderberry, canada elderberry, common elderberry