Red Elderberry vs Mountain Huckleberry - TreeTime.ca

Red Elderberry vs Mountain Huckleberry

Sambucus racemosa

Vaccinium membranaceum

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Red Elderberry
Mountain Huckleberry

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.

Mountain Huckleberry is a small shrub known for its tart to sweet berries. The berries range from purple-black to red-black, and can be eaten fresh or used in jams and syrups. It is a plant native to Alberta and the berries are frequently enjoyed by both people and wildlife.

In traditional Indigenous fire management practices, berry patches were burned after harvest. This would reduce the invasion of other plants allowing the Mountain Huckleberry to thrive. Its foliage has low flammability and can survive low severity fires, and even if destroyed they regrow from the roots.

Note: Mountain Huckleberry requires specific soil conditions. They need moist, well-drained, acidic soil with a pH around 5.5.

Red Elderberry Quick Facts

Mountain Huckleberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 5a
Height: 4 m (13 ft)
Height: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: none
Suckering: high

Toxicity: toxic to humans

Flowers: white
Berries: bright red berries
Berries: dark purple
Flavor: sweet, acidic
Harvest: mid to late summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, PE
Native to: AB, BC, ON, YT, NT
Other Names: red elder
Other Names: big huckleberry, black huckleberry, tall bilberry, thinleaf huckleberry