Red Elderberry vs Western Sand Cherry - TreeTime.ca

Red Elderberry vs Western Sand Cherry

Sambucus racemosa

Prunus pumila var besseyi

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Red Elderberry
Western Sand Cherry

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 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 Quick Facts

Western Sand Cherry Quick Facts

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

Toxicity: toxic to humans

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


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