Red Elderberry vs Western Sand Cherry - TreeTime.ca

Red Elderberry vs Western Sand Cherry

Prunus pumila var besseyi

Sambucus racemosa

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Western Sand Cherry
Red Elderberry

Western Sand Cherry is known for its unique, leathery grey-green foliage and beautiful white blossoms. It is a popular ornamental shrub in parks and front yards. Both you and the wildlife will love its edible small dark red to purple cherries.

Due to its small stature and spreading qualities, Western Sandcherry is suitable as an underplanting or groundcover.

Many people graft plum and cherry varieties to Western Sand Cherry and use it as rootstock. It is also popular to graft hardy apricots to.

Red Elderberry is an attractive, medium-sized deciduous shrub.

It produces clusters of white flowers in the spring and bright red berry-like drupes, which provide beautiful contrast against its coarse, textured green foliage.

Red Elder can be pruned as a small single or multi-stemmed tree.

Western Sand Cherry Quick Facts

Red Elderberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 2a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 4 m (13 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none


Toxicity: toxic to humans
Foliage: grey-green
Fall colour: reddish-orange
Flowers: white
Flowers: white
Berries: small purple cherries
Berries: bright red berries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: SK, MB, ON
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, PE
Other Names: red elder