Highbush Cranberry vs Ranch Elderberry - TreeTime.ca

Highbush Cranberry vs Ranch Elderberry

Viburnum trilobum

Sambucus canadensis Ranch

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Highbush Cranberry
Ranch Elderberry

Highbush Cranberry produces attractive white flowers in late June and bears edible fruit that matures to a bright red colour in the late summer.

This shrub, native to much of Canada, is fast growing, and its fruit can be eaten raw or cooked into a sauce.

Ranch Elderberry is a vigorous and high-yielding Black Elderberry cultivar. It ripens earlier than other varieties and is smaller and more compact making berry harvest easier. The berries are well-suited for baked goods, jams, jellies, and syrups. They are high in vitamin C and reported to be beneficial for the immune system.

Black Elderberries are considered to be partially self-pollinating. So while they will still produce some berries without cross-pollination, planting with another variety will increase yields. Consider planting with Black Elderberry or Bob Gordon Elderberry.

Warning: the seeds, stems, leaves, roots, and uncooked berries are toxic to humans when eaten in quantity. Berries should be cooked to make them safe for human consumption.

Highbush Cranberry Quick Facts

Ranch Elderberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 4 m (13 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 2.7 m (9 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Toxicity: leaves, stems, and uncooked berries are poisonous to humans
Flowers: white clusters
Flowers: fragrant, white
Berries: edible red berries
Berries: black
Harvest: late summer to early fall
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no

In row spacing: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Other Names: american cranberrybush, american cranberrybush viburnum, high bush cranberry, kalyna
Other Names: american elderberry ranch, american ranch elderberry, ranch american elderberry