Red Elderberry vs White Fringe Tree - TreeTime.ca

Red Elderberry vs White Fringe Tree

Chionanthus virginicus

Sambucus racemosa

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

White Fringe Tree
Red Elderberry

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 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.

White Fringe Tree Quick Facts

Red Elderberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 5 m (15 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: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none


Toxicity: toxic to humans
Flowers: fragrant, white clusters
Flowers: white
Berries: blue to black
Berries: bright red berries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, PE
Other Names: american fringe tree, american fringetree, fringe tree, fringetree, north american fringe tree, white fringetree
Other Names: red elder