Red Elderberry vs Black Hawthorn - TreeTime.ca

Red Elderberry vs Black Hawthorn

Crataegus douglasii

Sambucus racemosa

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Black Hawthorn
Red Elderberry

Black Hawthorn is a versatile plant that is native to wetlands and other areas with moist soils, but can also tolerate dry soils. This plant can be grown as a short shrub, or a tree reaching 30 feet tall.

Black Hawthorn is valued for erosion control and attracting pollinators. It also makes an attractive flowering ornamental that can be planted as a specimen or pruned as a hedge. It is commonly used in shelterbelts.

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.

Black Hawthorn Quick Facts

Red Elderberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 8 m (25 ft)
Height: 4 m (13 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none


Toxicity: toxic to humans
Foliage: contains thorns
Fall colour: yellow to red
Bark: brown to gray
Flowers: white
Flowers: white
Berries: purplish-black pomes
Berries: bright red berries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, ON
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, PE
Other Names: crataegus columbiana, douglas hawthorn, douglas' thornapple
Other Names: red elder