Red Elderberry vs White Fringe Tree - TreeTime.ca

Red Elderberry vs White Fringe Tree

Sambucus racemosa

Chionanthus virginicus

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Red Elderberry
White Fringe Tree

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.

White Fringe Tree is known for its fringe-like white flowers. It can either grow as a small tree or a large multistemmed shrub. The White Fringe Tree has separate male and female plants. Both male and female flowers have white fringe-like petals, but the male flowers are longer and showier. The female flowers give way to clusters of dark blue to black berries. These berries are not edible for humans but attract birds and other wildlife.

The White Fringe Tree is tolerant of clay soils, saline soils, and air pollution but does not do well in prolonged dry conditions.

Red Elderberry Quick Facts

White Fringe Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 4 m (13 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: bright red berries
Berries: blue to black
Flowers: white
Flowers: fragrant, white clusters
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium



Toxicity: toxic to humans

Other Names: red elder
Other Names: american fringe tree, american fringetree, fringe tree, fringetree, north american fringe tree, white fringetree