Indigo Treat Haskap (Honeyberry) vs Black Elderberry - TreeTime.ca

Indigo Treat Haskap (Honeyberry) vs Black Elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

Lonicera caerulea Indigo Treat

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Black Elderberry
Indigo Treat Haskap (Honeyberry)

Black Elderberry is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America. You can plant this shrub in moist areas and it will help stabilize your soil. You can also use it on rural properties anywhere you'd use a lilac.

Black Elderberries are considered to be partially self-pollinating. So while they will still produce some berries without cross-pollination, planting with another variety will increase yields. Consider planting with Ranch Elderberry or Bob Gordon Elderberry.

Warning: the seeds, stems, leaves, roots, and uncooked berries of the Black Elderberry are poisonous to humans when eaten in quantity. You should cook the berries to make them safe for human consumption.

Indigo Treat has fruit similar in size and firmness to their Tundra variety, making it suitable for commercial production or your home garden.

Indigo Treat, like the Borealis Haskap, does not self-pollinate well. We recommend another variety, such as Honeybee or Berry Blue Honeyberry, be planted at a minimum 1:8 ratio with it to boost fruit production. Many experts suggest the highest Haskap yield comes from fields planted with the most varieties.

Due to stronger interest in newer cultivars, 2015 will be our last year selling Indigo Treat.

Black Elderberry Quick Facts

Indigo Treat Haskap (Honeyberry) Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none

Toxicity: leaves, stems, and uncooked berries are poisonous to humans

Bark: gray brownish with rigid bumps
Flowers: fragrant, white and showy
Berries: black
Berries: elongated berries are large, firm and great tasting (sweet tangy)
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, PE
Other Names: american black elderberry, american elderberry, canada elderberry, common elderberry
Other Names: haskap sk 9-91