Red Elderberry vs Western Snowberry - TreeTime.ca

Red Elderberry vs Western Snowberry

Sambucus racemosa

Symphoricarpos occidentalis

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

Red Elderberry
Western Snowberry

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.

Note: This species is currently unavailable. Grow your own using Red Elderberry seeds at SeedTime.ca.

Like the Common Snowberry, the Western Snowberry is a small shrub with pink flowers useful for feeding livestock and preventing erosion. Unlike the common species, however, the Western Snowberry is much more suited to wet conditions, capable of persevering through poor soil drainage and occasional flooding.

After the Snowberry's flowers have bloomed, it produces berries which often last on the plant through winter. These berries are toxic to humans, but livestock and local wildlife love them! Those hoping to attract wildlife to their property can plant Snowberry and expect to see animals foraging on it much later in the year than other plants.

Red Elderberry Quick Facts

Western Snowberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 1a
Height: 4 m (13 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: bright red berries
Berries: small, white, poisonous to humans
Flowers: white
Flowers: pinkish white
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: none
Suckering: high



Toxicity: toxic to humans

Toxicity: berries are toxic to humans
Other Names: red elder
Other Names: buckbrush, wolfberry